15 lose vision after botched surgery

At least 15 people lost their vision after they underwent cataract surgery during an eye camp held last week at a private clinic in Ambala, Haryana, about 42-km from capital Chandigarh.

Ambala is the home constituency of controversial Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij who was in the news after he had an ugly face-off with a woman IPS officer.

The patients were allegedly operated upon with contaminated solutions and surgical equipment which led to severe infection in the eyes. A day after the surgery, when the patients visited the eye surgeon, Dr Charanjit Singh, for removal of bandages, they complained of no vision in one eye.

All patients were rushed to the Post Graduate Institute (PGI) in Chandigarh for treatment. Many patients are from the economically weaker sections.

Barring one, the rest are showing very slow improvement.  Vij, who visited the patients at the PGI on Tuesday, said he has set up a three-member inquiry panel to look into the matter.