Lasik surgery suspended at Singapore's top eye centre

dpa German Press Agency Published: Tuesday March 13, 2007

Singapore- All Lasik surgery has been suspended at the
Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) following a spike in infections
among patients who underwent the procedure to correct
nearsightedness, the facility said Wednesday.
Checks are being carried out on the Lasik machines. The air
conditioning system and sponges and cleaning fluids used will also be
inspected.

"We like to overreact a little," The Straits Times quoted
Professor Donald Tan, SNEC's deputy medical director, as saying. "It
may upset some patients, but we put safety first."

The number of infections rose to 17 last Monday and Tuesday.

Tan told the newspaper that the type of infection being reported
is not dangerous and usually clears up on its own, but the suspension
will last at least until the end of March.

The number affected is far higher than normal for the city-state's
top eye facility, which usually months without a single case of
infection.

The patients are recovering with treatment and will be monitored.
They reportedly suffered some blurring of vision, a result of white
blood cells rushing to the surgical site.

There does not appear to be a pattern, Tan said. The patients were
operated on by different surgeons using three different laser
machines.

The problem appears to be centred at the Singapore National Eye
Centre, with no reports of increases in infections at other
facilities.

SNEC carries out 500 to 600 Lasik surgeries a month.

© 2006 - dpa German Press Agency

Comment Here