Mumbai: Fourteen cataract patients, who went for surgery hoping to see clearly, may have lost their vision forever after they were allegedly operated upon using improperly sterilised equipment at a government-run hospital in Washim district of Maharashtra.
The victims were operated upon for cataract at the district hospital last month after which complications developed. Doctors at the JJ Hospital in Mumbai, where 23 of those who had undergone surgeries were admitted last week, say preliminary tests indicate the reason for loss of vision is the presence of a highly infectious strain of bacteria that is resistant to most antibiotics.
Dr T P Lahane, Dean of JJ Hospital, told NDTV, "There seems to be an infection from surgical instruments which may not have been sterilised properly but (only) a probe will establish what exactly caused it." An inquiry has been ordered.
Rajendra Hivrale whose 65-year-old mother has lost sight in one eye said, "After the operation she could not see. We told the doctor. He referred us to Akola where we were kept for about 10 days. When things got worse, they moved her to Mumbai."
The delay has compounded the problem. "Definitely there was a delay. The infection has been present for 15 days and it has encroached upon the tissue and because of that 14 people may not get back their vision. We don't know how much the retina will recover but four patients seem to be recovering today," Dr Lahane added.
Two doctors have been suspended after the incident. Forty two patients were admitted to the hospital for the cataract surgery camp last month. But soon, many of them developed complications and did not recover after the operation.