Environmental chamber for donor tissue for corneal transplant surgery

Two of the country's leading ophthalmologists have won a prestigious prize for devising a unique piece of equipment that will transform corneal transplant surgery and lead to faster recovery of vision. Professor Roger Buckley and Madhavan Rajan from Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridgeshire have been awarded first prize in the Medical Technology category of the Spotlight Competition organised by Health Enterprise East (HEE), the NHS regional partner organisation. The accolade was given in recognition of their work devising a small environmental chamber for the preparation of donor tissue used in corneal transplant surgery, which will mean a simpler and quicker operation on patients with age-related corneal disease, leading to more effective treatment and faster recovery of vision. Professor Buckley said: "To be able to create predictably thin donor discs is the aim of every surgeon carrying out a procedure called Descemet's Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty, which is revolutionising the management of age-related corneal visual impairment in our ageing society. The chamber will enable this to happen. Vision is restored much earlier, typically in six weeks rather than a year or more, and inpatient stays can be shorter and outpatient visits fewer, with corresponding reductions in healthcare costs." Chris Armstrong, HEE spokesman, added: "The idea for an environmental chamber met all the criteria in our recent competition; fulfilling an unmet need, helping deliver identifiable and measurable benefits, and having the potential to improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare services."