Seven suffer partial vision loss after cataract surgery

Seven elderly persons suffered partial loss of vision after undergoing cataract surgery at a government-run hospital here last week, authorities said. Thirteen elderly patients, including women, contracted infection in their eyes after undergoing cataract surgery at the Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital. Doctors at the hospital have ruled out any negligence on their part and claimed that the saline bottles used during the surgery were contaminated, resulting in infection in the eyes of the 13 patients who were in the age group of 60-70. "About 21 patients underwent cataract surgery in the hospital on June 30. Of this, in 13 cases we noticed some infection in their eyes after opening the bandage next day. "Immediately they were taken for re-surgery and were given necessary treatment. Six patients responded well to the treatment and they have been already discharged. But, seven cases are still under treatment," Rajender Gupta, Deputy Superintendent at the hospital, told PTI today. "When we further investigated we found the 13 cases were operated upon in one operation theatre. It was found that fluid bottles used during surgery were contaminated with Klebsiella bacteria, which caused infection in the eyes of patients and resulted in partial vision loss to some of them," he said. He hoped that the remaining seven patients, who are under treatment and observation, will recover fully. All eye surgeries have been stopped at the hospital in view of the incident. Another senior doctor, S Ravinder Goud, said, "Of the 21 patients who underwent cataract surgery, we noticed in 13 cases that their eyes were infected when we opened the bandages the next day to follow up. "We gave necessary treatment and they were all re-operated to remove infection. Six of them recovered vision, while the seven others are under further treatment at the hospital," he said. "Right now they have defective vision and we hope they will recover as well. We are trying to restore their vision," Goud said. Based on a preliminary report submitted by an internal committee of experts, which looked into the incident, Goud said there was no negligence on part of the doctors who conducted the surgeries. "Doctors and nurses have been well trained in the surgical field and it is not fault of doctors. Primary report says saline bottles were infected with Klebsiella bacteria... Definitely that bacteria caused the infection resulting in partial vision loss," he claimed.