(Captions for photos) VISION RESTORED: Mr Kitti Anansongvit (left) and Brent Chapman both underwent cornea transplants in Singapore last month. PHOTO: ASHLEIGH SIM

(Captions for photos) EYE SAVIOUR: Prof Donald Tan performed both the operations.

Thai with mysterious eye infection sought help in Thailand, US before finding successful treatment here

IT PROBABLY happened at the golf course. A bit of mud from the soggy turf got into his left eye.

A trip to India immediately after did not help, and by the time Mr Kitti Anansongvit, 47 returned to Bangkok, his eye was red and infected.

The businessman saw several ophthalmologists in Bangkok but they could not identify the problem.

He then sought treatment in the United States where he spent six weeks. Under the care of Associate professor Kenneth Goin of the University of Iowa Hospitals, his infection improved.

But by then, most of his sight in the left eye was gone.

“It was very tiring using one eye. I tried driving, but I couldn’t judge the speed of oncoming cars. I also had trouble crossing the street,” Mr Kitti recalled.

Two months after his return to Bangkok, the infection flared up again.

Prof Goin suggested that he see professor Donald Tan, deputy director of the Singapore National Eye Centre, for a transplant.

By the time he got to Singapore last month, his left eye was so badly infected he could see no more than 30cm infront of him.

The Singapore National Eye Centre too could not identify the organism at the root of the problem. By then, the infection had spread to almost the entire cornea.

Last week, Prof Tan decided to go ahead with the transplant. He removed all the upper part of the infected cornea, leaving only the thin endothelial layer which was still clear of infection. With this layer intact, there is practically no risk of rejection.

But the infection could recur. Prof Tan said it was all a “numbers game”. With the transplant, much of the bacteria was destroyed or removed. The hope now is that a course of antibiotics will kill off any remaining bugs.

Even with this shadow hanging over him, Mr Kitti is grateful. He told The Straits Times: “ With an active infection, no doctor in the US or England would do a transplant.”

For him, the bill of between $6,000 and $10,000 is a small price to pay.

ONLY IN SINGAPORE: “With an active infection, no doctor in the US or England would do a transplant.” – MR KITTI ANANSONGVIT, 47, expressing his gratefulness after having successful cornea transplant surgery here