18 lose vision after botched cataract operation

WARANGAL/HYDERABAD: At least 18 people, who underwent cataract surgery under Telangana government’s flagship programme, Kanti Velugu, in Warangal district complained of loss of vision. The district medical and health authorities on Friday referred the patients to LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) in Hyderabad for super-speciality care.

The exact cause of blindness is unclear as senior ophthalmologists are yet to arrive at a diagnosis. It’s suspected fungal growth in normal saline used for disinfection before surgery could have caused infection.

Health minister C Laxma Reddy confirmed to TOI that 18 patients suffered infection in the eye after cataract surgery and this can be cured with antibiotics and specialized treatment.

Kanti Velugu in eye of storm, patients rushed to Hyd hosp

As sparks flew at a Warangal hospital over botched cataract surgeries triggering blindness in 18 patients, district authorities went into fire-fighting mode.


District medical and health officer (DMHO) Hareesh Raj assured patients and families it was not incurable and doctors at LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) would provide tertiary ophthalmic care. The operation theatre of the hospital in Warangal has been sealed, pending inquiry.

The patients underwent cataract surgery in one eye on September 22 at a private general hospital in Warangal under the mass eye check-up and cataract surgical programme of the state government to “improve the vision” of people. Of the 18 people who underwent surgery, eight developed severe infection. The remaining 10 suffered mild infection.

Selected under Kanti Velugu, patients were operated upon at Jaya Hospital, a private multispecialty hospital in Warangal. Doctors are ascertaining whether patients had nosocomial (hospital acquired) infection or developed infection post-surgery due to poor hygiene. Doctors warned an infection of this nature can cause potential loss of eyesight.

Earlier, there have been cases of mass cataract surgeries resulting in partial or permanent loss of vision. Laxma Reddy said patients were referred to LVPEI for better treatment. “For cataract surgery, an incision has to be made to insert lens and there are chances of infection. In all 18 patients, developed infection following surgery.

Such infections can be controlled with use of antibiotics and in majority cases, it can be cured. We did not want to take a chance and hence shifted them to LVPEI. Eyesight is not likely to be compromised and all of them have been operated upon in one eye only,” he said. Under Kanti Velugu programme, patients identified for surgery are given an option to choose a hospital from a list. “All 18 patients had chosen the private hospital on their own.

The state government funds the cost of surgery. However, such infections can happen in any hospital and surgeries under Kanti Velugu programme are being done at both private and government-run hospitals,” Reddy said. Meanwhile, hospital sources at LVPEI said it will take two to three days to assess their condition. The patients, who attended a follow-up examination on Thursday, said they were unable to see. This came to light on Friday after relatives of patients entered into an argument with the hospital management.