UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hi, my husband has been a keratoconus patient for over a decade now. He has been using Rose K lenses for a while. Both hiis eyes are in a bad shape, extremely photosensitive, unable to get his far vision and just abt managing to drive. I think its time for a transplant. We are based out of Dubai but would like to get the transplant done in India. Any suggestions as to the best available surgeon in India. Has anyone got a tranplant done in India? Looking forward for some help. Thanks.

After much thought and talking to a lot of friends and doctors in the field, we have decided to get the transplant from Shankar Nethralaya in Chennai. The consulting doctor is Dr. Padmanabhan. Has / is anyone visited or consulted her? Pls feel free to post your comments adn wish us luck!

Hi there Gauri

So pleased that you've been able to find a doctor to perform the transplant procedure. Finding someone who you feel you can trust and whose experience in the field gives you confidence is so important as no doubt you and your husband have discovered. Most of our members are in the UK (although we do have quite a few outside the UK too) so it may well be that no-one will have direct knowledge of this particular clinician. Then again, I've been proved wrong before, I'm sure if someone does know they will be along to say, usually people send private messages when it comes to their personal experiences.

Yes, the best of luck ! Will be thinking of you and your family -- when is the operation taking place ?

Best wishes

Chris

Hi Gauri,
I too have KC and had got cross linking done. I had researched before getting the treatment with other people I know & everyone I spoke to said that Sankara Nethralaya in Chennai is the best place for any eye surgery. I have an uncle who had to get a cornea transplant because of KC, which I believe he got done from the US, since this was about 15 years back and probably <my assumption, didn't ask him though> Sankara Nethralaya wasn't as famous or reputed back then. But for the last few years, he has been referring only to Sankara Nethralaya and he has very very high regard for the doctors there. They are definitely the best in India.
Hope this helps,
Nikhil

longhoc wrote:Hi there Gauri

So pleased that you've been able to find a doctor to perform the transplant procedure. Finding someone who you feel you can trust and whose experience in the field gives you confidence is so important as no doubt you and your husband have discovered. Most of our members are in the UK (although we do have quite a few outside the UK too) so it may well be that no-one will have direct knowledge of this particular clinician. Then again, I've been proved wrong before, I'm sure if someone does know they will be along to say, usually people send private messages when it comes to their personal experiences.

Yes, the best of luck ! Will be thinking of you and your family -- when is the operation taking place ?

Best wishes

Chris

Thanks Chris. The date has not been fixed yet, we need to get a few things sorted before we decide when to finally get this done. Though I (not my husband ) am thinking if its any good to get a C3R done on his bad eye, before we get the transplant done. Trying to find answers on the internet, cause as per the doc my husbands cornea is too thin for C3R. But i feel we have nothing to loose. What do you think?

Nik wrote:Hi Gauri,
I too have KC and had got cross linking done. I had researched before getting the treatment with other people I know & everyone I spoke to said that Sankara Nethralaya in Chennai is the best place for any eye surgery. I have an uncle who had to get a cornea transplant because of KC, which I believe he got done from the US, since this was about 15 years back and probably <my assumption, didn't ask him though> Sankara Nethralaya wasn't as famous or reputed back then. But for the last few years, he has been referring only to Sankara Nethralaya and he has very very high regard for the doctors there. They are definitely the best in India.
Hope this helps,
Nikhil

Hey Nikhil, where did you get C3R done from? My husband has been visiting Shankar Nethralaya for the past 5 yrs, but we still wanted to be doubly sure. You know how it is? You can never be 100% confident.

Hi Gauri,
I had got the treatment done from Shroff Eye Hospital in Mumbai, as they have the most experience for Cross Linking in Mumbai. I stay in Mumbai & hence wanted to get it done from a local doctor as it involves multiple followups.
Sankara Nethralaya though is the most renowned & best eye hospital in India though and 2 other KC sufferers I spoke to also recommended it as their top choice, so I would say that you are going to the right place.
Best of luck for the consultation/procedure.
Regards,
Nikhil

Sankara nethralaya,chennai is a good hospital.Dont worry your husband is under safe expert hand.I personally had CXL at sankara nethralaya around 6 months back under DR SSR SUDHIR,
Apolo hospital of hydrabad is also good choice for corneal transplant.

gauri_gupta1 wrote:Hi, my husband has been a keratoconus patient for over a decade now. He has been using Rose K lenses for a while. Both hiis eyes are in a bad shape, extremely photosensitive, unable to get his far vision and just abt managing to drive. I think its time for a transplant. We are based out of Dubai but would like to get the transplant done in India. Any suggestions as to the best available surgeon in India. Has anyone got a tranplant done in India? Looking forward for some help. Thanks.

Sankara nethralaya,chennai is a good hospital.Dont worry your husband is under safe expert hand.I personally had CXL at sankara nethralaya around 6 months back under DR SSR SUDHIR,
Apolo hospital of hydrabad is also good choice for corneal transplant.

Hi!
i am from Mumbai - India. My Wife has KC in both Eyes from last 10 years. she wears Piggy back Lenses on both eyes. Recently on 4th June, 2012 She was operated for Corneal Transplant for Left Eye as the Thickness of her cornea was getting much Thinner.

In 2009, we had visited Shroff Eye Hospital, Mumbai for C3R Procedure but Doctors said her Thickness was much thinner so C3R could not be done. They Suggested to wear Contact Lenses till the Advanced Stage of KC.

In 2012, My wife went thru many problems in the Left Eye. Her vision was getting poor & wearing Lenses was getting difficult & also it hurt the Eyes & couldn't wear Lenses for Long Time. We decided on Cornea Transplant.

As from last 4-5 years we are associated with Kerataconus_cure@yahoogroups.com (Kerataconus Forum), we knew that C. Transplant is done at Apollo Hospital, Hyderabad by Dr. Rajesh Fogla. So We sent our Latest TOPOGRAPHY REPORTS via Email to Dr. Rajesh Fogla & he confirmed that C. Transplant is needed in both Eyes but Left Eye is more affected. He suggested Transplant in Left Eye First.

On 4th June, 2012, We meet Dr. Rajesh Fogla in the morning & on same day she was operated at 4.00 pm. In Apollo Hospital They have "DAY SURGERY" Process means "Come in... Get Operated... Go home in Evening....One-day surgery is a surgical procedure that doesn't require a hospital stay. & also is Less Expensive.

It's been 7 Days now... My wife is feeling good... Gradually the vision is improving as "Tissues" are getting set according to Eye... Our next "Review" is Scheduled on 7th July, 2012.
Hoping for the Best...