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29 people blinded after free operation in Orissa

Twenty-nine persons of Kendrapara district in coastal Orissa lost their vision after they went in for a free eye operation to improve their vision. "Today, they are cursing their decision to undergo the operation," said Harish Pradhan, a social worker.

They victims were among 36 persons who underwent a minor cataract operation at an eye camp in Mehendipur near Kendrapara town last month. The camp was held jointly by the district Lions Club International and the district Blindness Control Programme.

Specialists from Cuttack's SCB Medical College had operated on the victims.

District Collector Basanta Swain said the district administration is yet to reach to a conclusion about the cause of blindness.

In November, 17 persons of Gajapati district in southern Orissa turned blind following a free eye operation.

Nisamani Mallick, an old man who has taken to begging after the operation, said, "I have no option but to beg. Earlier, I used to make a living by running a rickshaw."

Pradhan told rediff.com, "All of them were poor and were lured into undergoing the operation since it was free."

Sources in the Kendrapara government hospital said an infection in the makeshift operation theatre could have resulted in the loss of vision. "It was at the post-operative stage that doctors noticed the deterioration in the condition of some patients. However, they chose to do nothing about it," sources revealed.

According to a local health worker, lack of proper post-operation care is the cause for the tragedy.

Another doctor who examined the victims said that all the 29 patients had developed pesedomolas, a bacterial infection, following the operation leading to pus formation in the eye.

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