Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

21 cataract patients face vision loss

By Our Staff Reporter

Madurai Jan. 31. As many as 21 patients, who underwent a free cataract surgery in Theni district, are likely to lose vision in the operated eye, while 24 others are fighting an infection developed a day after the operation.

The victims belonged to a medical camp organised under the aegis of the Blindness Control Society at Periyakulam on January 24 and 25. Fortynine villagers were advised to undergo surgery for cataract removal. All the victims belong to Theni and Dindigul districts.

A special team of doctors, including two ophthalmologists and five post-graduates, performed the operations at the Periyakulam Government Hospital. Within hours after the surgery, the patients complained of acute pain and swelling in the eye. Painkillers and antibiotics could not stop puss formation in the eye, forcing the authorities to refer the 21 patients to the Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) in Madurai.

"The patients are suffering from a severe infection, which could have been caused by a medicine, suspected to be Vincomed. They have been put under intensive care and the possibility of their regaining vision is meagre as the infection has damaged the vitreous," a senior doctor said.

The condition of 23 persons admitted later was normal and they were likely to get back vision, he said.

The authorities have not held anyone responsible for the incident and are tight-lipped over the issue.

"We have formed a committee led by the Chief Ophthalmologist to probe the incident," the Dean, A.J. Balakrishna Rao, said.

Of the 45 persons admitted to the GRH, including 22 women, one patient is missing.

Samples of medicine and materials used during the operation have been sent to the Department of Microbiology, the Madurai Medical College, for a swab test.

Meanwhile, speculation is rife over the cause of the incident. While some doctors allege that the infection would have been caused due to unclean surroundings in the operation theatre, others attribute it to "gross medical negligence" and "mishandling" by "inexperienced" persons.

However, it is claimed that the operation theatre was fumigated on December 13.

One of the drugs sent for culture test turned positive and it was sent back for re-confirmation.

The Rajya Sabha MP, Thanga Tamilselvan, visited the GRH.

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