OPTIC SURGERY IN BRITAIN

Press, Volume C, Issue 29427, 1 February 1961, Page 18

OPTIC SURGERY IN BRITAIN

Corneal Material Short (N.Z Pritts AMoetatton > AUCKLAND, January 31. A shortage of material for corneal grafting was delaying much optic surgery in Britain, said Mr Frank W. Law, senior ophthalmic surgeon at Guy’s Hospital. London, who arrived in Auckland in the Athenie today. •’There is a long waiting list for this work, which could assist many partially blind people to see," he said. "The only source of supply for eyes is corpses, and we must have the permission of relatives before these can be taken. “The most important and dramatic discovery in recent years in the field of eye surgery had been in preventing blindness in premature babies. When placed in an oxygen tent many of them used to develop plastic, fibrous growths over the eyes with resulting blindness.” he said. "We found that by careful regulating of the oxygen this eould be almost completely eliminated." Mr Law, who is president f the United Kingdom Ophthalmic Society and president of the B.M.A. section of ophthalmology, said that ophthalmology was right to the fore as an important branch of medical science at present