Retinoblastoma:

Your child’s eye surgeon must have informed you that your child had ‘Retinoblastoma’ for which immediate treatment is necessary. Retinoblastoma is a cancerous growth that occurs in the eye.

The tumors are of two types. The cancerous tumor can spread to other parts of the body, ultimately causing death. The other ‘benign’ form of tumor does not spread like a cancerous one and is thus relatively safer. Retinoblastoma is a cancerous tumor needing immediate attention.

Retinoblastoma can present as a white reflex at the pupil of the eye (Cat’s eye like appearance) or as a squint. Rarely if ignored in the early stage, it can cause protrusion of the eyeball.
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What causes a Retinoblastoma?

As in most cancers, we still do not know why some children develop Retinoblastoma. Retinoblastoma can however occur in families due to a genetic defect and children born in such families are definitely at risk. However, most children who develop this tumor do not have other affected family members.

Usually Retinoblastoma affects only one eye of the child. Rarely both eyes of the child may be affected, particularly if other family members (either parents or brother and sister) are affected.

If either parent is affected, there is approximately 40% chance of future offspring developing Retinoblastoma. Hence future children of the family where a parent and a child are affected should be checked by an ophthalmologist immediately after birth. For this reason, your ophthalmologist may advice examination of the parents’ eyes.

The risk of the future children developing Retinoblastoma can be assessed in some cases by doing a ‘genetic analysis’ of the blood. If necessary, a test can also be done on the pregnant mother to find out if the fetus has the risk for tumor.

SYMPTOMS:

The most common symptom of Retinoblastoma is white pupillary reflex. In an eye affected with Retinoblastoma, pupil will appear white or pinks instead of red when light shines into it. This can be seen by child’s parents after taking a flash photograph, especially if the pupils are of distinct colors. This can also be noticed by the child’s doctors during a routine eye check-up.

Lazy eye- The eyes of the child do not seem to look in the same direction. Lazy eye in child mainly occurs due to the mild weakness of the muscles which control the eyes, but Retinoblastoma is also one of the exceptional causes.

The other symptoms include:

Pain in the eyes
Redness in the white part of the eye.
Eyeball is larger than normal.
Colored part of the eye and pupil look cloudy.
Each iris is of different colors
TREATMENT:
Most cancers are treated by:

Removing the affected part so that it does not spread to other part of the body and cause death
Using radiation treatment
Giving intravenous medicines (chemotherapy)
Using laser or cryo treatment
Retinoblastoma is also treated based on these broad principles

As an initial step, your ophthalmologist may advice ‘examination under general anaesthesia”, where the child is examined in detail after giving a short anaesthesia. This is essential to examine the child’s eyes completely and plan treatment. This examination under general anaesthesia may have to be repeated at every visit of the child to assess the treatment response.

Your doctor might have already briefed you about the tentative plan of treatment for your child. He may have advised ‘Enucleation’, that is removal of the eye if the tumor is very advanced. Enucleation is usually advised when the tumor is very large and the eye does not have any vision. Removing this sightless eye will decrease the chances of the tumor spreading to other parts of the body and causing death. Most children adapt to this procedure quite well and grow up normally with one eye. They can attend regular school and be as normal as any other child. To make the child appear normal, your doctor will fit a ‘cosmetic shell’ in place of the removal eye, 6 weeks later. Some movement of this cosmetic eye can be expected though it cannot match the normal eye.

Subjecting to child enucleation is a traumatic experience. However it is in the child’s own interest. Your child’s life may be in danger if the eye is not removed.

Eye saving treatment may be tried if the eye with the tumor has vision. If the tumor is small, your doctor may advice ‘Laser treatment, Cryo treatment or Transpupillary Thermotherapy’, which are treatments that can be performed during examination of the child under anaesthesia.

If the tumor is large in an eye with vision or if it is the only remaining eye of the child, then doctor may advice “Radiation or Chemotherapy”. You will be referred to a cancer hospital for these treatments. Though the treatment is done at the cancer hospital, it is your ophthalmologist who will assess the response to treatment and hence you should come back to your ophthalmologist for follow-up. If chemotherapy is done, is had to be followed-up by Laser or Cryo treatment which will be done by your ophthalmologist.
FAQs:
What are the possible side effects of treatment?

Laser or Cryo treatments are usually safe but problems like bleeding in to the eye or retinal detachment may rarely occur.

Radiation may lead to late cataract formation, improper growth of face bones and teeth. Rarely other tumors can occur in later life especially in a child with familial form of disease.

Chemotherapy has so far been found to be safe except for short term complication like loss of hair, weight, vomiting, susceptibility and infection. Hair that is lost grows back and the child gains weight after stopping the chemotherapy.

Will my child be cured?

It is every parent’s and ophthalmologist’s wish that both the eyes and life of the child with Retinoblastoma is cured. However, all Retinoblastomas do not respond well to treatment. If the tumor does not respond adequately to eye saving treatment, your doctor may advice removal of the eye in the interest of saving the child’s life.

However, with the latest advances like chemotherapy, many children who would have lost their eyes earlier retain them now.

It is very essential that the advised treatments are carried out and the child brought back for periodic follow-up as advised by your ophthalmologist. You must bring the child back for review 4-6 weeks later (or as advised by your ophthalmologist) to assess the response of the tumor to treatment and also to repeat the treatment if necessary. Even if your child’s eye has been enucleated, you may still have to come once in 3 months in the first year, 6 monthly in the second and yearly once for the first 5 years at least. Children with tumor in both the eyes may have to be followed for longer periods of time.
Article by
Sankara eye care Hospitals

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetes is a disease that inhibits with the body’s ability to use and store sugar, which may lead to several health problems. Excess sugar present in the blood may cause damage in the entire body including eyes. Meanwhile, the circulatory system of the retina also gets attacked by diabetes more…

Diabetic Retinopathy is an eye complication that occurs in person due to Diabetes and which causes continuous harm to the retina. Moreover, it is the outcome of damage to the tiny blood vessels that feed the retina. These tiny blood vessels drip blood as well as other fluids that results in swelling of retinal tissue and clouding of vision. Both eyes get affected by this disease. The longer an individual has Diabetes; he/she has more chance of developing Diabetic Retinopathy. Diabetic Retinopathy may also lead to blindness, if it is left untreated.

What causes a Diabetic Retinopathy?
Diabetic Retinopathy occurs mainly due to the changes in the blood vessels of the retina. Diabetes produces weakening of the blood vessels in the body. The tiny retinal blood vessels are particularly susceptible. This deterioration of retinal blood vessels accompanied by structural changes in the retina will lead to loss of vision. When the loss of vision is caused due to diabetes, a Diabetic Retinopathy occurs.

FAQs:

What are eye diseases caused due to Diabetes?

Cataract, Glaucoma and Diabetic Retinopathy are the diseases caused due to Diabetes. The most common eye complication in diabetes is Diabetic Retinopathy.

How is Diabetic Retinopathy diagnosed?

Slit lamp, Bio-microscopy, Indirect Ophthalmoscopy and Fundus Fluorescein Angiogram (FFA) are used to diagnose Diabetic Retinopathy.

What is FFA?

Magnified Photographs of the retina are taken after injection of fluorescein dye, to detect any leaks in the retina vessels. The test will help in early detection of bleeding into the eye before sudden loss of vision occurs and also helps in planning proper treatment.

What are the facilities available in Sankara for Diabetic patients?

Periodical Screening by vitreo-retinal specialist for early detection of Diabetic Retinopathy
Fundus Fluorescein Angiogram (FFA) (Topcon, Japan)
Laser Photocoagulation Facilities :
Argon Laser Unit
Diode Laser Unit
Fd-Yag Laser Unit
Fully equipped state-of-art operation theatre to perform vitro-retinal surgeries for advanced stages of Diabetic Retinopathy

Symptoms:
Diabetic Retinopathy produces ocular symptoms only in the last stage of the disease. Only an ophthalmologist can detect in early signs of Diabetic Retinopathy. So, all Diabetic patients should undergo yearly eye (Retinal) examination. Symptoms like floaters, difficulty in reading and sudden loss of vision are seen in advance stages of Diabetic Retinopathy. Early detection and timely treatment significantly reduce the risk of vision loss.

Treatments:

Laser Treatment: Lasers are widely used in treating diabetic retinopathy and is performed as an out-patient procedure. In this treatment an intense and highly energetic beam of light is focused on the area to be treated with the aid of the slit lamp and a special contact lens. This will reduce the retinal thickening and stops bleeding. Additional treatment may be required depending on the patient’s condition.

Surgical Treatment: In some patients the vitreous may pull on the retina reducing vision severely. In such cases a surgical procedure called vitrectomy is performed. This surgery is done for advanced stage of Diabetic Retinopathy.
Article By
Sankara Eye care Hospitals

iPerfect Lasik Laser Centre:

Are the monsoon rains leaving your vision blurred with water logging on your spectacles? Are you always worried about losing glasses on a trip? Does your day begin with your searching for your glasses before you even reach the washroom? Does your packing kit include a bottle of contact lens solution, case and other paraphernalia? To all those who dream of vision without glasses or contact lenses here is a chance to be i-Perfect at Sankara laser Vision Correction. It is safe, precise and predictable.

TREATMENT:

It is safer than ever to have a LASIK done: The US-FDA Allegrato WaveLight LASIK LASER with a 500Hz laser is equipped with the latest and most modern technology to ensure optimized results. 100% of patients have achieved predicted visual outcomes and 0% infection rate; proof of commitment to quality.

Sankara LASIK team carries forward experience of over 4500 LASER Vision correction procedures. Our staff is full time and available for your care at all times. Sankara Eye Foundation, Bangalore, is proud of its ethical practice. The institution offers a blend of latest in eye care coupled with a proven experience and convenience of location. In 2012 alone our surgeons have performed over 25,000 vision restoring procedures.
Article By
Sankara Superspeciality Hospital

Keratoconus:

Keratoconus actually means “cone-shaped cornea.” Keratoconus is defined as uncommon eye condition in which normally dome shape cornea thins and bulges outward like a cone. Cornea, the most vital part of eye is located in the central part of the front surface of the eye. Light penetrates into the eye throughcornea, which focuses the light rays,help us to see clearly. But due to Keratoconus, the structure of the cornea becomes like cone, resulting in distorted vision. Keratoconus affects many day to day activities like watching television, driving, typing on a computer, readingand etc. It may occur in one or both eyes and often begins during teenage or early 20s.
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What causes Keratoconus?

The exact root of Keratoconus is still not known. Several theories are built on research and its alliance with other circumstances. But none of the theory explains it all and it may be caused by the combination of several things.

However new research proposes that Keratoconus may occurs due to an imbalance of enzymes within the cornea.Due to this imbalance cornea becomes more susceptible to oxidative destruction from compound named as free radicals, causing it to weaken &bulge forward. It is also believed that the environmental, genetics and the endocrine system are involved in the occurrence of Keratoconus.

Keratoconus is also related witheye injuries such as excessive eye rubbing, history of wearing hard contact lenses, eye diseases like Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis, Retinitis Pigmentosa and Retinopathy of Prematurity, Systemic diseases such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Down Syndrome, Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis and Osteogenesis Imperfecta and overexposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun.
SYMPTOMS:

The various symptoms of Keratoconus usually begin in late teenage or early 20s, but can start at anypoint of time. Generally both the eyes get affected by Keratoconus but the symptoms may differ in each eye. Blurred vision and regular changes in eye glass power are the initials symptoms of Keratoconus. Other signs of Keratoconus include:

Increased sensitivity to light
Difficultly in driving at night
Distortion of vision
Eye strain
Headaches and general eye pain
Mild eye irritation
Glare
Excessive eye rubbing

The rate of progression fluctuates. Keratoconus will frequently developed slowly for ten to twenty years and then suddenly stop. As the disorder progresses, the most common signs include:

Increased blurring
Distortion of vision
Increased changes of eyeglass power
Inability to wear contact lenses.

Treatments:

The treatment of Keratoconus depends on the severity of the Keratoconus signs. In early levels, eyesight can be improved with the use of eyeglasses. If eyeglasses fail to deliver adequate vision then rigid contacts may be suggested to wear so that light penetrating the eye is evenly refracted &eyesight is not distorted.In mild cases, new eyeglasses generally make eyesight strong again.People suffering from Keratoconus should also refrain his/her eyes from rubbing as rubbing can aggravate thin cornea tissue and make conditions worse.

Keratoconus may be treated by Intacs, small curved implantable corneal devices, which can restructure the cornea. Intacs are FDA approved and can help flatten the steep cornea found in Keratoconus.

When all above mention treatments are not successful to provide clear vision, then the last option is a cornea transplant. Only 10-20% of Keratoconus patients need to go for this surgery. In corneal transplant, the center of the cornea is removed and it is replaced by the healthy donor cornea. The transplanted cornea settles gradually. After transplant, it may take a year or more to recover good eyesight.

Another most popular cornea transplant Keratoconus is Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty (DALK). During this process, only the front & middle layers of the cornea are transplanted. In this surgery, there is a less chance of rejection.
Article by
Sakaraeye care Hospitals

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Anti Aging Cosmetic Surgery Options:

Age is one factor which worries all and surely even you think the same, so, this article will help you with all the information on how you can reverse the signs of ageing. Along with age, many problems such as wrinkles, scars, loose skin and many other unwelcome things come on your way making you worried and tensed. In the present beauty conscious world, nobody wants to look aged and dull. That is why everyone strives hard to maintain the perfect figure and a healthy skin. But age is one factor which can never be hidden without the help proper care and maintenance. But, nowadays, help is at hand, with the progress of science and technology, nothing is impossible, thus, if you are ready, all your age and beauty related problems can be cured by anti-aging cosmetic surgery. So, now you know how to get that youthful appearance. Know more on various anti-aging surgeries by following the writing below.

Skin Resurfacing, Peeling And Lifts

Anti aging Laser Skin Resurfacing
Laser resurfacing is a method to give individuals, magically softened, healthier looking skin by smoothing the wrinkles and removing scars and other blemishes. It is a relatively new technology, which is proving to be less abrasive to the skin than traditional treatments. Noticeably, the results of laser resurfacing are immediate, especially when used to remove fine to moderate wrinkles.

Chemical Peel
Chemical peel, also called derma peeling or chemexfoliation, is one of the techniques to make you look younger. This technique makes a person look years younger by removing and softening wrinkles and blemishes caused by over exposure to the sun. Depending on the degree of wrinkling, a light, medium or deep peel may be recommended. Although chemical peel is most commonly used on face, the treatment can also be used to improve the skin on legs, neck and hands.

Neck, Forehead And Eyelid Lift

Forehead Lift
A forehead lift is performed in conjunction with a facelift to achieve a more harmonious and complete facial enhancement. A forehead lift is also appropriate for the treatment of certain inherited traits. Young people, who have a low brow or who already have deep frown lines due to stress or over activity of the forehead muscles, can benefit from this procedure. A forehead lift can improve rigidity of the skin. Another facelifting procedure, ‘endoscopic facelift’ is the medical name for an improved plastic surgical technique that provides facial enhancement with minimal scars. This technique allows faster healing, and results in fewer side effects than traditional techniques.

Eyelids lift
After the face, it is the eyelids that show signs of aging. Blepharoplasty or eyelid cosmetic surgery can return youthful elegance to an individual’s face, making the eyes appear brighter and more refreshed. Browpexy is another procedure used to lift the brow without surgery. Some individuals experience an accumulation of fat in the lower eyelids, creating persistent bags under the eyes. These bags, however, are not always related to aging. This tendency may be inherited and may appear in early life before the aging process becomes noticeable. In other individuals, the skin of the upper eyelids may become lax and impart a hooded appearance to the upper eyelids and, in severe instances, even obscure vision. These can be corrected with eyelid cosmetic surgery.

Face lift
Compared to any other parts of your body, it is the face which shows the sign of ageing very prominently. So, when you think of anti-ageing surgery, face lift or rhytidectomy can be your best bet. This surgery removes the loose skin from your face, thereby, making you look fresh and younger.

Neck lift
Neck is also another region in the body where the age factors like wrinkles and dark spots can be seen prominently. In most cases, patients are asked to undergo only neck lift rather than the entire facelift. The neck lift can be considered as a part of the facelift, as the surgery takes place behind the ear and down into the neck. This procedure tightens the neck skin, upward behind the ears.

Cosmetic Ear surgery:

It is also known as otoplasty where it can improve the shape and position of the ear. The defect can be corrected in the ear structure which is presented from the birth. As soon as the surgery has been done the ear will have new shape which brings the balance and proportion to the ears and face.

The ear surgery can treat the

inside-bullets Large ears – called as macrotia

inside-bullets Protruding Ears

inside-bullets Adult dissatisfaction of the previous surgery

Ear Surgery

Procedure:

animated-arrow-image-0206 Anesthesia – The doctor will provide the best anesthesia for the patient

animated-arrow-image-0206 Incision – The surgical techniques is used to increase the antihelical fold(just inside the rim of the year) and to decrease the enlarged conchal cartilage(longest and deepest concavity of the external ear)

Liposuction:

It slims and reshapes the specific areas of the body by removing the excess fat deposits and it improves the body contours and proportion

This technique may be used to reduce the fat deposits in

. inside-bullets Thigh

. inside-bullets Hips / buttock

. inside-bullets Abdomen and waists

. inside-bullets Upper arms

. inside-bullets Back

. inside-bullets Inner knee

. inside-bullets Chest area

. inside-bullets Cheeks, chin and neck

. inside-bullets Calves and ankles

Liposuction For Men:

It is not an alternative for obesity or weight loss programs and it is not an effective treatment for dimpled skin.

Note : If there is too much of fat then it cannot be removed in a single sitting because there is a greater risk of complications and if you want to do in a single sitting then you need to proceed with the weight loss surgery . In this liposuction the surgeon can remove only 10 kbs or 5 kg at that time.

This is removed by a hollow metal tube passed through the fatty tissue.A pump and a vacuum is attached so that the fat is literally sucked out .The patients need to consult with the doctor before taking up this surgery

Stretch Marks Causes And Treatments
Stretch marks are ugly looking scars on the skin and they can really hamper your confidence, and make you feel more conscious of your body. This condition occurs due to various reasons such as low maternal age, body stress, weight gain, hormonal changes, genetic influence and most commonly pregnancy. About 75 to 90% women develop stretch marks after pregnancy, which can be quite a worrisome factor for would-be mothers. Today, there are laser treatments, cosmetic surgery and a number of stretch mark removal creams available in the market to ward off this problem. But then, nothing works out like home remedies and use of natural ingredients, which are loaded with highly valuable health properties. Eating a balanced diet along with adequate water intake is also beneficial if you want to find relief from this problem. Scroll down the write-up to find out more on the surgical treatment for stretch marks and a diet guide to prevent stretch marks.

Surgical Treatment For Stretch Marks

Laser stretch mark removal is one of the easiest and quickest surgical methods to opt for if you want to get rid of stretch marks. This type of surgical procedure uses laser rays to remove the scars and lighten them. For best results, a person has to undertake several sittings, which sometimes depend on the intensity of the scar.
The laser rays remove all the three layers of the affected skin so that new skin can grow. The cost of this method depends on the skin tone and the size of the area treated. For good results, at least six sessions of laser treatment is required with each session lasting about ten to thirty minutes.
Plastic surgery is another method for removing stretch marks. Here, the skin below the belly button is removed, which is often susceptible to stretch marks. Once removed, a fresh new skin grows back. Like laser surgery, the price of this treatment depends on various factors such as skin type, ethnicity, and age of the patients.

Diet Guide To Prevent Stretch Marks

Besides indulging in a good diet, it’s vital to exercise regularly in order to tone your muscles and get rid of stretch marks.
An effective home remedy includes massaging your body with olive oil. Doing this regularly not just banishes the ugly marks but also makes the skin supple and smooth.
Drink at least ten to twelve glasses of water a day and stay away from caffeinated drinks such as coffee, tea or cola.
By eating you not only feed your stomach but also your skin. So, always take care on what you eat and drink. Foods that are rich in biotin and niacin are extremely good and aids in strengthening the skin and prevents stretch marks.
Brewer’s yeast, whole grains, legumes, cauliflower, oysters, meats, and oatmeal are all rich in biotin content so include them in your diet. Foods like prawns, meat, fish, pork, dairy products, almonds, celery, carrots, seeds, leafy greens, turnips, seeds, and rice bran scores high in niacin.
Besides biotin and niacin, consuming fruits and vegetables, which are rich in vitamins E, C, A and K, are also necessary for they produce elastin and collagen, which in turn helps in healing the scar tissue.
Include grapefruits, sweet peppers, lemons, oranges, and other citrus fruits in your regular diet as they are a rich source of vitamin C. For vitamin E you can have whole grain cereals, almonds, eggs, and sunflower seeds. Spinach, peas, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, carrots, broccoli, peaches, and apples among others are a good source of vitamin A. For vitamin K include foods like cucumbers, asparagus, spinach, different varieties of greens, etc.

Why consider hair transplant?

Your hair is major part of your personality. When you experience extreme hair thinning it is very distressing because it dampens confidence in ones looks. Hair Transplant is the only permanent solution for hair loss. This gives you a natural looking hairline. The transplanted hair grows like natural hair and does not require special care.
Before and after images
At your consultation, our Patient Care Co-ordinators will show you a selection of before and after photographs of our previous patients.

hair-transplant
The techniques we use
We offer two types of hair transplant surgery

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)
This innovative method of hair transplant takes individual hair follicles from the nape of the neck (donor area) and transplants them into the area of thinning/ baldness. Follicles are implanted at a very specific angle which gives the transplant the best chance of success. The whole process takes place under local anaesthetic. This option is preferred by those who are concerned about visible scarring that can be encountered with other methods, by those clients who intend to have very short hairstyles.

hair-transplant-process
Duration:
Time taken for the procedure will vary widely depending on the area to be treated and hair density.

Results:
Results are visible immediately; however the full effect will not be achieved until approximately 6 to12 months after the transplant.

Follicular Unit Strip Surgery
This technique of surgical hair transplant involves removing strips of hair instead of individual hair follicles, from donor areas at the back or sides of the head. The surgeon then removes the individual hair units (comprising of 1-3 hairs) and implants these individually into the area of thinning or baldness. The incisions that the surgeon uses to implant the hairs are very tiny; sometimes compared to pin pricks, this leads to a very natural looking hairline.

Duration:
The procedure takes place under local anaesthetic. From start to finish, it normally lasts between 4-7 hours depending on the area to be treated.

Results:
Results are visible immediately; however the full effect will not be achieved until approximately 6 -12 months after the transplant.

male-hair-transplant