Debra Li

debra_lidan@163.com

SOME 100 local eye doctors gathered at a seminar Wednesday afternoon at the Shenzhen branch of Bright Eye Hospital (Purui in pinyin) in Nanshan District to delve into the latest advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases.

Professor Ge Jian, renowned for his expertise in treating glaucoma, along with Chen Huiyi, a senior ophthalmologist at Mercy Eye Specialists in St. Louis, Missouri, United States, and Liu Hongshan, a specialist in corneal diseases and the hospital’s director, shared their insight with doctors not only from Purui Hospital but also from other local medical facilities.

Liu emphasized the importance of continuous learning, highlighting that ophthalmology is constantly evolving with new breakthroughs. “Academic exchanges, pivotal to enhancing the quality of medical services, help us stay abreast of innovative solutions,” he said.

Glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness characterized by damage to the optic nerve, triggers irreversible vision loss in 5% to 20% of all patients. While high eye pressure is often associated with optic nerve damage, other factors like diabetes can also contribute. As glaucoma can progress without noticeable symptoms, early detection is crucial.

During the seminar, Professor Ge discussed unconventional treatments such as brain-computer interface, stem cell therapy, and gene editing for restoring vision, particularly in advanced glaucoma cases. He mentioned that artificial visual devices could be a promising solution for addressing late-stage glaucoma that is otherwise untreatable.

Chen, who was back in China on a charitable medical mission, shared insight on the treatment of Uveitis-Glaucoma-Hyphema (UGH) syndrome, a post-cataract surgery condition characterized by chronic inflammation, high intraocular pressure, and hemorrhage in the eye’s anterior chamber. Through case studies, she shed light on the importance of personalized surgical approaches to reduce the occurrence of this syndrome.

Liu introduced the technique of partial-thickness corneal transplant, in which the donor stroma is transplanted while the recipient’s basement membrane and endothelium are preserved. This procedure minimizes post-surgery complications like inflammation, bleeding, and transplant rejection compared to conventional full-thickness transplants.

The local Purui hospital, managed by a private hospital chain listed on the ChiNext board, has observed a notable increase in daily outpatient visits, rising from 100 to approximately 400 each day since its inception in May. Another upscale clinic under the brand is set to open in the Guomao area of Luohu District by year-end.