Lost Vision From 'Botched' Cataract Surgery In India

First Posted: Dec 06, 2014 03:59 PM EST
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A doctor was arrested Friday for performing cataract surgery on several people who were blinded following treatments. There was also a case registered against a private hospital and a Marthura-based NGO that organized the camp in Gurdaspur.

According to Reuters, at least 60 people have lost their vision because of the incident at the camp held at Ghuman village in Guardaspur district.

"We have asked for a report from the Punjab government. But as we have been told that the operations were done by some NGO and it did not have the permission from the state government, we are finding out the details of it," said Health Minister J P Nadda told reporters outside Parliament, via BBC. 

Though surgery to remove cataracts is a relatively straightforward procedure, a serious complication--though rare--can occur when a skin or membrane grows over the back of the lens implant months or years later, following surgery. Yet typically, the operation involves a tiny cut in the eye that so that the affected lens can be removed. The surgery would then insert a small plastic lens in its place.

Now, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has ordered a high-level probe into the incident and banned holding of health camps without prior approval of the civil surgeons.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time patients have lost their sight in India due to botched cataract surgery, according to the BBC.

Between 2008 and 2009, 14 lost their sight after contracting eye infections in northern Uttar Pradesh state.

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