R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, FEB 18
In a dramatic medical turnaround that reads like a surgical epic, Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital has restored vision to a 44-year-old Mumbai-based gynaecologist who had descended into total blindness in her left eye after ten years of relentless glaucoma and multiple failed intraocular interventions.
In what is being described as the world’s first-of-its-kind integrated procedure, surgeons executed the advanced 5F-ISHF intraocular lens (IOL) implantation technique in combination with optical penetrating keratoplasty (OPK), structural ocular reconstruction, the novel 5F scleral fixation technique, and pupilloplasty — all in a single, meticulously orchestrated sitting.
- Revolutionary 5F-ISHF IOL implantation performed alongside corneal transplant and total ocular reconstruction
- World-first single-sitting surgery reverses decade-long vision collapse caused by severe glaucoma and intraocular damage
- Patient regains 6/24 vision immediately, poised for further visual recovery
- Breakthrough underscores India’s rising dominance in high-risk, high-precision ophthalmic innovation
The result was immediate and life-altering: the patient, who had lost complete vision in her right eye and retained only light perception in her left, regained 6/24 vision in the operated eye right after surgery — enabling her to return to medical practice. Doctors indicate that her visual acuity is expected to improve further as healing progresses.
From Progressive Blindness to Precision Redemption
Diagnosed with glaucoma in 2010, the patient had undergone prolonged treatment elsewhere, including cataract surgery, trabeculectomy, and Mitomycin-C therapy. Despite sustained intervention, her vision deteriorated steadily, culminating in total blindness in the right eye and near blindness in the left.
While severe glaucoma formed the underlying pathology, the surgical team identified the immediate trigger of her profound visual loss — a malpositioned artificial intraocular lens in the left eye. The faulty IOL was pressing against the iris and cornea, distorting the eye’s anatomy and causing the anterior layers to fuse.
Surgeons removed the displaced lens and replaced it with a new, precisely positioned IOL using the 5F-ISHF technique. Simultaneously, they performed corneal transplantation and complex structural reconstruction to restore anatomical integrity and optical clarity.
Surgeons Speak
The press conference was addressed by Dr Soosan Jacob, Director and Chief – Dr Agarwal’s Refractive and Cornea Foundation (DARCF); Dr Soundari S, Regional Head – Clinical Services, Chennai; and Dr Manoj Khatri, Clinical Lead and Head, Department of Vitreo Retina.
In his comments, Dr Ashvin Agarwal, Chief Clinical Officer & Senior Ophthalmologist, said,
“It is truly heartening to see this young medical professional return to her practice after years of suffering and progressive vision loss. This was an exceptionally complex case. The complexity and severity of her condition required multiple surgical approaches delivered in a seamless manner. This included extensive reconstruction of the distorted ocular anatomy, the use of the advanced 5F-ISHF technique to securely fix a new intraocular lens, and pupilloplasty. Addressing only one dimension of the problem would not have enabled her to regain functional vision in her left eye. It was the combined expertise, infrastructure, and surgical capability of our team that allowed us to provide a long-lasting solution.”
Dr Soosan Jacob, Director and Chief – Dr Agarwal’s Refractive and Cornea Foundation (DARCF), who performed the surgery, said,
“The patient was diagnosed with glaucoma in 2010 and had been undergoing treatment elsewhere for over a decade. Despite sustained care, including cataract surgery, trabeculectomy, and Mitomycin-C therapy, her vision had continued to deteriorate, eventually leading to total vision loss in the right eye and near blindness in the left. When she presented to us, she had only perception of light and projection of rays in her left eye. While she had a history of severe glaucoma, we identified that the immediate cause of her profound visual loss was a malpositioned artificial intraocular lens in the left eye. We therefore adopted a comprehensive approach, removing the faulty IOL, reconstructing the compromised ocular structures, and implanting a new lens using the 5F-ISHF technique.”
The 5F-ISHF Edge
Developed by Dr Soosan Jacob, the 5F-ISHF technique is a highly refined, stitchless method for securing a new intraocular lens without large incisions. The lens is fully tucked within the eye’s structural framework, ensuring stable, flapless fixation even in severely compromised anatomy.
Replying to queries Dr Soosan Jacob said, “the technique developed by me was presented in an international Opthalmologists conference in a middle-east country few months ago. Ever since, the technique was developed, as many as 15 people had undergone this procedure at Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital”, she added.
Besides presenting a paper on this technique at an international conference, the Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital also trained few overseas doctors including European countries – Germany, Austria, Dr Soosan Jacob said.
This procedure covered under Tamil Nadu CMCHIS
She further added that “This procedure is covered under the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS) in Tamil Nadu”.
By combining advanced lens fixation, corneal transplantation, and intricate structural reconstruction in a single sitting, Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital has not only restored one doctor’s sight — but also illuminated a new frontier in complex ophthalmic surgery.
