9 cataract patients develop infection after surgery, lose eyesight; hospital sealed

Nine cataract patients lost their eyesight after developing an infection following surgeries at a private hospital in UP's Gorakhpur. Authorities have sealed the hospital and a magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the incident.

Nine patients lost their eyesight after developing an infection following their cataract surgeries at a private hospital in Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur, prompting authorities to seal the institution and order a magisterial inquiry. Prima facie, officials said, the incident appears to be cases of infection following the procedures.

The incident occurred at New Rajesh Hi-Tech Hospital, where an eye camp was organised on February 1. Around 30 patients underwent cataract surgeries that day. Within a few days, their condition began to deteriorate, with 18 patients developing severe eye infections. Of them, nine eventually lost their eyesight and had to get their eyes surgically removed at other hospitals.

As the patients’ condition worsened, several were referred to super-specialty hospitals in Delhi, Lucknow and Varanasi. The matter came to light after families raised alarms over complications such as intense pain, bleeding and pus discharge from the operated eyes.

Family members narrated harrowing accounts of the aftermath. Sanjay Singh, a resident, said his father’s eye started bleeding soon after surgery.

“We sent him to Varanasi, then Delhi, but the bleeding did not stop. Two members of my family underwent surgery here and both are suffering,” he said. Another relative said doctors in Delhi ultimately advised removal of the eye after the infection became uncontrollable.

Rekha, whose mother-in-law was among those operated on, said 18 patients from her area underwent surgery at the hospital. “There was severe pain and pus discharge. The pain has reduced after medicines were given, but the damage has already been done,” she said.