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TYRONE -- A member of the Tyrone Hospital medical staff Thursday completed the first corneal transplant performed at the hospital.
The transplant was performed by Dr. Parag Parekh, the founder of ClearView Eye Consultants and an ophthalmologist specializing in cataract and refractive surgery, as well as cornea and glaucoma surgery.
The 45-60 minute procedure on an elderly Altoona area woman went well.
"I did her right eye a few years ago, and today we did her left eye. Her vision will be good within a month," Parekh said.
Although corneal transplants have been performed for years, the event was important for the local hospital.
"It is a very specialized surgery being done for the first time at our community hospital, which makes it very significant for us," said Theresa Yanchetz, hospital spokeswoman.
Parekh said he has been doing corneal transplants for several years.
"Very few places around here do them. They are done at Mount Nittany Medical Center and Geisinger Grays Woods but not in Altoona, Bedford, Johnstown and Indiana," Parekh said. "It is very special for Tyrone Hospital to be in a position to offer transplants."
Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 946-7467.