9 people lose eyesight after surgery in UP

LUCKNOW: At least nine people lost their eyesight after undergoing cataract surgery at a government aided eye hospital in Uttar Pradesh's Sitapur district, some 90 km from Lucknow, officials said on Tuesday.

A high-level inquiry has been ordered by the government into the incident, they added.

"We have learnt that the patients were operated on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at the general ward of the hospital," director general medical and health services IS Srivastava said.

These patients had complained about blurred vision after which they lost their eyesight completely, he added.

Asked whether it was a case of medical negligence, Srivastava said: "Nothing can be said before the completion of the inquiry that is underway."

However, prima facie it appears that ointments and solutions used in the surgery were not fit for use, he added.

The nine patients will be brought to the Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University (CSMMU) here for further treatment.