Conference focuses on maintaining eye health

EYE health was in the spotlight last week as the Southern African Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery hosted national and international experts in a week of figurative eyespy.

The four-day programme saw workshops and lectures focused on the delicate workings of the eye, how to overcome disease and the latest equipment to handle delicate treatment.

Among luminaries were Professor Harminder Singh Dua, pictured, the head of ophthalmology at Nottingham University, UK.

Dua made a groundbreaking find in 2013, when he discovered a new cornea layer, which necessitated a rewriting of how the window to the eye works.

He said: “During a cornea transplant, our team found a sixth layer while trying to separate the other five layers.”

Dua’s layer was confirmed to play a role in many corneal diseases, including glaucoma.

“There was initially controversy around the discovery but the dust has since settled and more surgeons are supporting our finding,” he said. The Punjab-born professor described his career as a game of snakes and ladders, having repeatedly worked from the bottom towards success in three countries, including India, the US and UK. He said he burnt the candle at both ends to sit at the top of the ophthalmology board.

He advised people to understand that the eye and sight were precious and susceptible to disease.

His message to contact lens users: “It only takes a day of infection to devastate the eye, so take precautions, at the slightest irritation remove the contacts and never over-wear them.

“Dryness of the eyes is a big problem among youth because of the increased pollution and constantly staring at computer screens without blinking,” said Dua.

Meanwhile, local ophthalmologist specialist, Doctor Mohammed Ismail Motala, found that common eye problems experienced by Durbanites were eye allergies and keratoconus (thinning of cornea).

“Check your eye health regularly,” he advised.