Eyes can help detect many diseases, say doctors

Eyes need not just be our window to a person's soul, they can even be helpful in signifying the advent of various diseases and their early detection. Ophthalmology has grown beyond the diseases like cataract and glaucoma with the doctors using the science in conditions like diabetes and even some types of cancer. These facts were reinforced by the medicos present at a CME titled 'Ocular Imaging - The Third Eye', organized by the department of ophthalmology and medical education technology (MET) unit of NKP Salve Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre.
"Not just having an in-depth information about the person and the earliest possible detection of various diseases using the latest technologies of imaging can even help in management of diseases," said well-known eye surgeon Dr Narendra Patil.

Dr Nitin Shetty, the vitreo retina consultant at Manipal Hospital of Bangalore, said, "The improved techniques are especially useful in diabetes as a non invasive method of investigating the extent of the disease." He said not only has this just reduced the time of gathering information about the patient but also made follow-up treatments a lot easier.
"Till a few years ago, age related deterioration of vision was thought to be untreatable. Only a few people would be aware that this can be arrested and even reversed with timely intervention," Shetty added.
"Some minor changes in retina can say a lot about the start of some diseases even before the physical manifestations can be observed. This can be especially used by neurosurgeons as the eyes can provide much information about the condition of the brain. Several times it has been useful to detect brain tumours particularly in children," informed Dr Rekha Khandelwal, head of the ophthalmology department at Salve Institute.
"Even in cases of traumatic accidents, deformities of bones near the eyes can affect one's vision. In most such cases, detection of the vision related problems takes a long time and sometimes the problem has grown beyond control," informed Dr Milind naik, head of the aesthetic clinic at LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad. He suggests that any team that is monitoring the condition of a victim of a tragic accident should consist of an ophthalmologist.
Supporting his colleague, Dr Patil recollected a case when the patient had been rejected by some of the most reputed hospitals of the country. "The young man had cancer in lacrymal glands which are located near the eye. After a 12-hour long reconstructive surgery, we were able to save his life. Five years after the surgery, he is still living a happy and healthy life," he said.