In the midst of ongoing missile fire, ophthalmologists at Rambam Health Care Campus (Rambam) successfully performed a corneal transplant on an 80-year-old patient.
Professor Michael Mimouni, Director of the Cornea Unit, performs a cornea transplant. Photography: Rambam HCC.
Even as Northern Israel remains under wartime conditions, physicians at Rambam continue delivering lifesaving and life-changing care. Aaron*, a resident of Haifa, had been waiting more than a year for a donor cornea. When a suitable cornea finally became available, the surgical team moved quickly to schedule the transplant despite the escalating security situation.
Professor Michael Mimouni, Director of the Cornea Unit at Rambam explained that they decided to perform the transplantation, despite the complex circumstances. This was a one-time opportunity that would honor the donor, the donor’s family, and restore Aaron’s sight after a very long wait.
The surgery was performed under local anesthesia using an advanced technique. Just as the team finished preparing for the procedure, an air raid siren sounded. The surgical team moved with the patient to a protected area. Once the immediate threat subsided, they returned to begin the surgery.
The transplant itself lasted approximately one hour. Shortly after the procedure was completed, another siren sounded, again forcing the team and patient to seek shelter before returning to finish postoperative care. Despite the interruptions, the operation was completed successfully, and after a period of post-surgical observation, the patient was discharged with restored vision.
“Conflict may disrupt daily life, but it does not diminish our efforts to rebuild patients’ vision or our duty to the donors who make it possible.,” says Professor Mimouni.
As the largest medical center in Northern Israel, Rambam continues to operate under emergency protocols while providing uninterrupted care for the region’s 2.7 million residents. From trauma care to complex surgeries, Rambam’s physicians and nurses remain on the front lines of Israel’s healthcare system.
*Name changed to preserve patient privacy.
Based on an English article that first appeared on Ynet News.
