Army Hospital R&R performs India’s first 3D Flex Aqueous Angiography with iStent
New Delhi: The Army Hospital Research and Referral (AHRR) has achieved a major medical milestone by successfully performing India’s first 3D Flex Aqueous Angiography combined with iStent, marking a significant advancement in glaucoma treatment, the Ministry of Defence said on Wednesday.
The procedure was carried out by the Ophthalmology Department at AHRR using a newly installed stand-mounted Spectralis imaging system along with a state-of-the-art 3D operating microscope. According to the ministry, the breakthrough places the Armed Forces Medical Services among the global leaders in advanced ophthalmic care.
Officials said the integration of 3D Flex Aqueous Angiography with iStent, a form of minimally invasive glaucoma surgery, sets a new benchmark in the management of glaucoma. The technique enables enhanced real-time imaging during surgery, allowing for more precise interventions and improved long-term outcomes for patients.
The ministry noted that for the Armed Forces community, the achievement goes beyond medical innovation, representing a strategic step in preserving vision and maintaining operational readiness. Glaucoma, one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness, is particularly challenging due to its silent progression, making early and accurate intervention crucial.
The new technology offers surgeons unprecedented real-time visualisation of aqueous outflow pathways, significantly improving the accuracy of treatment and patient outcomes.
The latest achievement builds on AHRR’s recent advances in eye care. In August this year, the hospital became the first government institution in India and the second in South Asia to perform Robotic Custom Laser Cataract Surgery using the ALLY Adaptive Cataract Treatment System. This marked the department’s entry into robotic, bladeless and computer-guided eye surgery with its first Femto-second Laser Assisted Cataract Surgery (FLACS).
The ministry said the adoption of such cutting-edge technologies reflects the Armed Forces’ continued commitment to providing advanced, safe and effective healthcare to its personnel and their families.
(with inputs from agencies)
