Visual aid gift from city's ceramic centre

Kolkata, Mar 5 (UNI) To see or not to see that is not the question- The Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute(CGCRI), Kolkata, has come up with a technology which will enable the visually handicapped to go in for cosmetic changes in order to make their eyes look real even if restoration of sight is not fully assured.

The CGCRI has developed the technology to manufacture hydroxyapatite-based integrated orbital implants, which were so far available in the US for around 800 dollars.

Since this prohibitive cost came in the way of its mass consumption, CFCRI's technology would help people of the city as well as the entire country, said Dr Debabrata Basu, head of the department, Oxide and Bio-ceramic sections, CGCRI.

Dr Basu informed that the implants had been carried out on 30 patients at the Disha Eye Hospital, Barrackpore, and all of them were doing well.

Detailing the technology, he said the hydroxyapatite was artificially prepared in the laboratory in an elliptical form and then put inside the visionless eye.

''We have transferred the technology to city-based company IFGL Bio-Ceramic Limited for commercialisation and the eyeballs will be priced between Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,000,'' the doctor observed.

Affirming faith on research to empower the eyeballs with vision, Dr Basu said, ''We are now trying to see whether we can give these implants a solar coating and restore sight.'' In India, there are 15 million blind people and many of them have only one functional eye.

MORE UNI