CATARACT PHACO
SURGERY
Cataract is the leading cause of bilateral blindness in India. It has been reported that cataract is responsible for 50-80% of the bilaterally blind in the country. Cataract formation is a natural part of the ageing process. Even though vision lost due to cataract can be restored through a simple and minor procedure, it still remains one of the significant causes of preventable blindness. Since the establishment of SGLEH, cataract consultation and surgeries have been a part of its services. Today, SGLEH is equipped with world class infrastructure and an expert team of doctors to screen, detect, diagnose and offer right procedural corrections for cataract and cataract related eye disorders.
SGLEH specialists are trained in some of the world’s best hospitals, and deliver best quality treatment with state of the art equipment. Painless and stitch-less cataract surgery with high quality lenses now available at an affordable range.
Cataract – Preventing Avoidable Blindness In India’s North East
Inferences 2019-20
15,646
Cataract surgeries conducted
117
Children were diagnosed with congenital and developmental cataract who underwent surgery
69.66%
Surgeries conducted free reaching to the unreached population of North Bengal
81%
Of the patients who received free treatments suffered Cataract silently without ever trying to access eye care
Cataract is still the reason for 80% of the avoidable blindness cases in India. Despite of being heavily funded and promoted by the Government in a developing nation like India Cataract still continues to lurke under the shadow of ignorance, scarce Government infrastructure and health worker skill set makes its access to every individual especially people coming from limited backgrounds and far flung regions difficult, overlooked and ignored. This resulted in creating a social prejudice where quality treatment is limited to only the priviledged section of the society.
To address the same and make quality eye care accessible to all in 1998 for the first time in North Bengal Phaco Surgery was introduced by the hospital providing quality, least invasive cataract surgery that made discharge from the hospital on the same day possible. With time the hospital not only became a Centre of excellence but, for most eye surgeons in the region it was the stepping stone to begin with their career, imbibe in them the spirit of service and meet community challenges to cater quality services to the people from vivid economic backgrounds.
With time the hospital became the most major contributor to the government health functionaries in North Bengal help meeting our joint commitment in making North Bengal free of avoidable blindness. With support, close coordination and network building the organization has played principle role in the capacity building of government health systems including skill sharing with the Government health workers, and technology infrastructure development. Being Cataract the leading cause to avoidable blindness Siliguri Greater Lions Eye Hospital(SGLEH) uses it’s robust outreach networks and strong referral mechanisms to intercept the person suffering with Cataract through various formal and informal agencies and bring them under the umbrella of holistic treatment.
Today, the hospital conducted more than 15,646 cataract surgeries alone in the year 2018-2019 contributing towards the Vision 2020 goal of creating avoidable blindness free North-Eastern India. Along with the specialized machine operated Phaco and Micro Phaco surgeries, the traditional Small Incision Cataract Surgery is also performed at the hospital. At the hospital the competitive counselling staff with direct instructions from the Doctor briefs on the specialized Intraocular lenses and the procedure of the surgery to each patient understanding their requirement of care hence ensuring personalized support to suit to their specific needs and health conditions. The hospital has super specialty phaco and micro-phaco instruments with a highly skilled team of Doctors and Hospital Health Staff to support during pre and post-operative procedures and care.