XN000022-1977-09-17 — Page 2

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1971

FIRST CORNEA TRANSPLANT UNIT SET UP

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THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S FIRST CORNEA TRANSPLANT UNIT WILL BE READY FOR OPERATION IN A FEW WEEKS' TIME, PROVIDING FACILITIES FOR RESTORING VISION TO PATIENTS BLINDING FROM CORNEAL DISEASES.

THE UNIT, EQUIPPED WITH MODERN AND SOPHISTICATED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, IS BEING SET UP AT THE PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL AT LAI CHI KOK, IT HAS FOUR BEDS FOR TRANSPLANT OPERATIONS.

THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON EAST HAS DONATED $100,000 TO THE DEPARTMENT TOWARDS THE COST OF PURCHASING SPECIAL EQUIPMENT AND

INSTRUMENTS REQUIRED FOR CORNEA TRANSPLANT OPERATIONS AND THE ASSESSMENT OF EYE PATIENTS' CLINICAL CONDITIONS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE SUCCESS OF THE TRANSPLANTATION DEPENDS NOT ONLY ON SPECIAL TECHNIQUE AND INSTRUMENTS BUT ALSO ON THE RIGHT SELECTION OF RECIPIENTS AND THE AVAILABILITY OF SUITABLE DONORS.

HE SAID SUITABLE RECIPIENTS ARE BEING SELECTED BY A CORNEA CLINIC, WHICH HAS BEEN SET UP IN THE YAU MA TEI OPHTHALMIC CENTRE SINCE MARCH THIS YEAR.

AN ASSESSMENT SESSION IS HELD EVERY TUESDAY AFTERNOON, AND PATIENTS WHO ARE CONSIDERED SUITABLE FOR CORNEA TRANSPLANT OPERATION ARE PUT ON A WAITING LIST. IN ADDITION, ANY PATIENT ATTENDING AN OUTPATIENT EYE CLINIC MAY BE REFERRED TO THE CORNEA ASSESSMENT CLINIC TO DETERMINE HIS SUITABILITY FOR TRANSPLANT OPERATION.

THE SOURCE OF DONORS WILL BE FROM LOCAL RESIDENTS WHO VOLUNTEER TO DONATE THEIR EYES AFTER DEATH.

THE CORNEA TRANSPLANT UNIT WILL ENABLE THE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE OPHTHALMIC SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

TO COMMEMORATE THE ROTARY CLUB'S CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE MEDICAL PROJECT, THE NEW UNIT AT PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL WILL

NAMED +ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON EAST KERATOPLASTY UNIT+.

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