Surgery botch up: 3 more patients regain vision

Mumbai, Nov 6: Three more victims of the "botched-up" cataract surgery held in Washim district of Maharashtra last month regained their vision at J J Hospital on Friday, taking to seven the total number of patients who have got their eye sight back so far.

The doctors had yesterday managed to restore eye sight in four patients.

"A total of 23 patients were brought here who had contracted severe 'pseudomonas' (bacterial) infection in their eyes. All were operated. While four regained their eyesight yesterday, three regained it today," noted ophthalmologist and Dean, J J Hospital, Dr T P Lahane told PTI.

To a query, he said it would be premature to assess exact number of patients who have completely lost their vision in the alleged botched-up surgeries.

Yesterday, varying reports quoted different number of patients to have lost their vision in the surgery.

"Rest of the 16 patients (excluding 7 who have got their eyesight back) have also been operated. It will take one week to one month and we would be able to comment on how many have lost their vision after that. Treatment is going on and each patient is under medical supervision. We are paying full attention to them," Lahane said.

The vision of 19 patients was critically affected after alleged botched-up surgeries by doctors at a cataract check-up camp in Washim district.

Washim's civil surgeon and the doctor who performed surgeries on the patients were already suspended while similar action has been recommended on a doctor at Akola Medical College.

The victims had gone for cataract surgery in Washim during a camp held there between October 6 and 29. But, from October 13, few patients started coming back to hospital with complaints of watery, itchy and red eyes, and blurred vision.

"When these patients started turning up at Washim hospital, the doctors, without analysing the cause, referred them to the medical college at Akola, where also they did not get proper attention for over 10 days, which shows serious and criminal negligence," a health official had said.

After the incident was brought to the notice of health department officials, these 23 affected patients were shifted from Washim and Akola to J J Hospital to regain their eyesight under the supervision of world class ophthalmologists.

PTI