At present, many people have specs in a very young age. But this spectacle affects social life of many. Although the specs of young people are considered as a style statement, it is a problem for the job of army or the police. Also it is an obstacle for many to get married. The girls or boys are being rejected for having spectacles. This makes it difficult for many to get married. JJ hospital’s Lasik Department has become a blessing for many such youths to clear the major obstacle for their marriage. Dr. Shashi apoor, of this department, has done a laser surgery on eyes of more than 600 youth and permanently released their specs. As these youth got rid of specs, they could fix up their marriages, told Dr. Shashi Kapoor to ‘My Mahanagar’.
Though eyeglasses are a boon for those who lack vision, it is a barrier in getting married. Many young men and women have come to me who faced difficulties to get their marriage fixed due to the spectacles. So far, 250 girls and 400 boys have performed lascivious surgery and their specs gone permanently. It has helped them to tie knot within few months of surgery, said Dr. Shashi Kapoor, an ophthalmologist of J.J. hospital.
So far eight thousand people have undergone this surgery and at least 200 operations are performed every month. The then Dean of the hospital Dr. Tatyarao Lahane took the follow up with the government and got the surgery machine for the hospital. More than 50 thousand rupees are needed to be spent on this surgery in a private hospital, but in J.J. hospital the cost is only 10 thousand. If the patient is the holder of orange ration card, then it becomes free. Young men and women working in police, Merchant Navy, Army, Sheep, Students and Corporate field comes for this surgery.
Treatment is possible for 8 to 45 years old
This surgery can be done from the age of 18 years to the 45th year and can get rid of spectacles. This surgery is very easy and one can leave home after 10 minutes only. So every day 30-40 young people come to the hospital for treatment. However, after 45 years of age a person need specs for reading. -Dr. Shashi Kapoor, ophthalmologist
What is the surgery?
There is a layer accumulated on the retina of the person’s eyes. This makes them to use specs. In the surgery, the accumulated layer on the retina is removed by the laser rays. This helps to removes your spectacles. Before the surgery, the patient’s physical and eyes are examined. After that, the surgery day is fixed. The surgery for both the eyes, does not take longer than 10 minutes. At the end of the surgery, the patient is immediately released at home. Shashi Kapoor advised that one should avoid taking stress on the eyes by reading or watching TV at-least for a week. This surgery also doesn’t need any bandaged on eyes. This is a very simple surgery.
For the first time in the country, such machine available in Government Hospital
It is believed that only the learning doctors gives treatment in government hospitals but in J.J. Hospital this Lasik surgery is done by expert doctors only. Dr. Kapoor himself takes this responsibility of performing surgeries. In the 1991 Lasik Machine was brought in Dr. Kapoor’s hospital. For 30 years Dr. Kapoor is doing the surgery. This machine was brought to the J.J. hospital eight years ago; Dr. Kapoor showed his willingness to perform surgery. J.J., is the only government hospital to have this machine.
Shashi Kapoor’s social services
Dr. Shashi Kapoor works in J.J. hospital for three days in a week. For this, they take a monthly salary of just Rs. 1500. Patients from every corner of the state come to Mumbai for eye treatment but most of them are not aware of the surgery, therefore the machine in J.J. hospital is not yet used in full capacity.
