Now, research on impact of black fungus on eyes

KANPUR : Basic research would be undertaken at health care centres where doctors performed eye removal surgeries on black fungus patients to check the spread of infection to vital body parts. While eyes of patients in such cases were being preserved to study the impact of fungal infection on vision, the role of genes was also being explored in this disease through another study, said experts.

This will be done as part of National Ophthalmic Society’s (NOS) guidelines to carry out a national level research on the impact of black fungus on eyes.

Data was being collected from all over the country about people who lost their eye sight or had their eyes removed due to black fungus.

Dr Shalini Mohan, member of NOS and president of National Glaucoma Society, said details of such patients such as pathological, histological reports apart from pre and post Covid details related to treatment will be collected. “We are working on the parameters the society has finalised,” she said.

Doctors would explore the role of genes behind this disease. And for this the society would be taking help of genetic department of SGPGI (Lucknow) and eye specialists, she added.

“A large number of patients were in ICUs for a prolonged period, had oxygen and steroid support and had a history of diabetes. But not all of them contracted the disease. In such a situation it has become imperative to look into the gene angle,” she said. “The research is necessary to help us understand from which point of eyes the infection enters, which part of the eye is most damaged and which area of eyes the doctors could focus on to save the eyes,” she explained.

It would also be studied if there is any similarity between normal black fungus or the fungus in corona patients. “Two days ago, experts from Delhi, Mumbai and Lucknow associated with NOS spoke to each other and decided to go ahead with the research quickly,” said Dr Shalini Mohan.

EYES OF PATIENTS IN SUCH CASES ARE BEING PRESERVED TO STUDY THE IMPACT OF FUNGAL INFECTION ON VISION. THE ROLE OF GENES IS ALSO BEING STUDIED BY EXPERTS.