In a first for Grahamstown, Settlers Hospital in Grahamstown received a specialised machine which allowed 25 patients to be operated on within two days.
In a first for Grahamstown, Settlers Hospital in Grahamstown received a specialised machine which allowed 25 patients to be operated on within two days.
The Phacoemulsification eye operating machine was borrowed from Alcon Laboratories in Johannesburg for two days during Eye Care Awareness Week that took place from 5 to 9 October. Sponsored by Netcare, the week was coordinated by ophthalmologist Dr Danie Louw of Port Elizabeth Provincial Hospital in collaboration with St John Ambulance Service, the Bureau for the Prevention of Blindness, Dr Davies Optometrists and Alcon Laboratories. While Settlers Hospital has the equipment to operate on advanced cataracts, they do not have the equipment to operate on early-stage cataracts. Last week however, Alcon Laboratories in Johannesburg lent Settlers an Alcon Infiniti phacoemulsification unit for two days, which enabled the hospital to perform surgery on early-stage cataracts for the first time.
The machine is unique in that it removes cataracts using ultrasound waves to break up the cataract and suck the pieces through a 3 mm wide incision in the eye. The procedure causes less disruption to the surface of the eye than other methods of cataract removal and does not require sutures (stitches) at the end of surgery because the incisions are self-sealing. Each surgery is performed in a minimum of thirty minutes so within a day the eye patch can be removed and the patient regains their sight.
The surgeons at Settlers conducted advanced cataract operations on Monday, Tuesday and Friday, and on Wednesday and Thursday they conducted operations on cataracts that had been detected early. In April this year Settlers received a Takagi operating microscope which was bought by Port Elizabeth Provincial Hospital and given to Settlers. "We have benefited a lot because the community can now access this service and this has intensified the work of our eye care," said Bongi Moyake, Settlers Hospital manager. Moyake said this part of a government plan to make the facilities available at provincial hospitals accessible where possible to district hospitals such as Setttlers. This is also in accordance with the Health act no.61 of 2003.
Eye patients have benefited, the work of the surgeons is made easier and it has upgraded the hospital’s eye care services. Dr Louw mentioned that PE provincial hospital is planning to buy a portable machine that they can take with when they visit other hospitals.
