13 may lose vision in Hyderabad hospital

Hyderabad: Thirteen patients who have undergone cataract operations at the state-run Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital here last week are facing the threat of losing their eye sight, as operations were failed.

Agitated and grief-stricken relatives of the patients alleged that the loss of vision was just because of the negligence of the doctors. The doctors, on the other hand, opined that it was due to the infection caused by the saline  supplied by the government, which was used for cleaning the eyes. According to the Deputy Superintendent of the Hosipital, Rajendra Gupta, they have identified that bacteria in the saline was responsible for the incident.  They have now decided to send back the saline bottles.  He said that the officials of the Drugs department have visited the Hospital and probed in the matter.  He also said that it was responsibility of the Government to take action against the agency which supplied the saline bottles.

He said the Doctors were trying their best to restore the vision of the patients.

Meanwhile, the Government has appointed eye expert Ravinder Goud to inquire into the tragic incident.  Raviner Goud later stated that there was no negligence on the part of the doctors and the mishap has occurred due to bacteria in the saline.  He said that the condition of seven patients, out of the 13, was critical.  He said the Doctors were making all-out efforts to see that the vision of the victims was restored.

Doctors at the Hospital said that in view of the incident and the agitation by the  family members of the victims, cataract operations were stopped for one week.