Surat eye-camp 8212; 7 may lose sight

SURAT, JAN 21: In a case bearing stark resemblance to the recent blindings in Sangli district of Maharashtra, at least seven persons stand...

SURAT, JAN 21: In a case bearing stark resemblance to the recent blindings in Sangli district of Maharashtra, at least seven persons stand to lose their eyesight after being operated upon at a eye camp held in the city on January 1 and 2.

As many as 18 persons of the total 242 persons who were operated for cataract at an eye camp organised by Surati Modh Vanik Gynati SMVG suffered serious eye complications and are presently being treated at Chalthan based Sanjeevani Hospital. The condition of the eyes of seven is stated to be serious.

The SMVG, which has been conducting eye camps regularly for the past eleven years, held a similar camp on January 1 and 2 at the P R Khatiwala Wadi Sankool, Rughnathpura. The services of doctors of Shivanand Mission, Visnagar in North Gujarat were being used until now, but since the organisation declined to provide services this year, four doctors of Ahmedabad based Karuna Trust accepted the invitation by the SMVG. They conducted the operations on the two days before leaving for Ahmedabad.

The four doctors of Karuna Trust who offered their services for the eye camp are Dr Hitesh Ramanuj, Dr Rajesh B Shah, Dr Pravin S Shah and Dr Mahendra Thakkar.

However, a few days after the eye bandages were removed by the patients, they noticed heavy swelling in the eyes, inflammation and a partial loss of sight too.

They immediately rushed to the organisers, the SMVG, who, admitted them to Chalthan Hospital. Of the total 18 that were shifted to the hospital, doctors there said that at least seven stand to lose their eyesight.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Dr Nitin Garg, an eye surgeon at the hospital said that the eighteen were brought to the hospital, where all were operated upon again. 8220;Nothing can be said at the moment on the eyesight of six or seven persons. Their eyes have been affected too badly. But the rest might regain eyesight,8221; he said.

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Secretary of the SMVG Champakbhai Khundiwala, while admitting that some persons had developed complications, said that the Surati Modh Vanik Sarvajanik Trust, which held the eye camp, had no information whether the eyesight of seven was seriously threatened. 8220;We are treating them at the hospital, but I have no information that anyone faces the threat of losing eyesight. We are looking into the matter,8221; he said.

Those who have been affected are Amrut J Kinariwala, Ambalal Hargovinddas Trivedi, Rambhai N Patel, Z V Lonari, Parshottam Nagarji, Parshottam S Patel, Dayaben C Prajapati, Mangiben C Patel, Ramu R Patel, Dahiben L Patel, Sahebrao L Patil, Laxmiben G Umreli, Gopal K Ambedkar, and Shantuben B Patil.