Andhra Government vows to take action in eye camp blinding incident

Hyderabad/Nellore/Chennai (Andhra Pradesh/Tamil Nadu), Oct.26 (ANI): The Andhra Pradesh Government on Monday said that it has launched an inquiry into the shocking incident in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, where ten people lost their vision in a free eye camp conducted by the Bollineni Eye Hospital and research centre.

Andhra Pradesh Health Minister D. Nagender told a television channel that the state government would not tolerate incidents of medical negligence.

According to informed sources, the eye camp had offered free treatment to those with cataract. They claimed that doctors had performed surgery on 29 patients, of whom ten complained of blurred sight and burning sensation in the eyes. They were rushed to the Bollineni Hospital and later referred to Sankara Nethralaya Hospital in Chennai.

Relatives of the blinded victims held the Bollineni eye hospital solely responsible for the shocking incident.

However, Doctor Sai Mohan of the Bollineni Globe Eye Foundation refused to accept that his hospital had committed an act of medical negligence.

"There are many procedures for operations. We have taken all precautions, but infections can be caused due to many reasons, even after sterilisation. We have tried all our best to save the eyesight of all our patients," he was quoted, as saying.

All ten patients are now undergoing treatment at the Sankara Netralaya hospital in Chennai. (ANI)