Chennai: Nearly a month after the eyesight of 23 people were affected “due to an infection” following a cataract surgery, Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on Sunday announced a solatium of Rs 3 lakh each for all the victims. As many as 21 of them would also be eligible for a monthly pension of Rs 1,000.
In a statement, the Chief Minister said two out of the 23 people, who underwent the surgery at the Mettur GH, have got back their eyesight following further treatment and that “infection has been controlled in 17 patients.”
Since people who underwent cataract surgeries at Mettur Government Hospital between June 14 and 16 developed infection, all the 23 people who had their surgeries during the period were admitted to hospitals in Salem and Coimbatore. After further surgery, two got their vision back and infection was controlled in 17 patients.
“Experts in the field say that it would take nearly three months to say whether they would get their vision back. Since the infection in four patients is persistent, they are under continuous treatment,” the statement said.
The incident took place at Mettur in Salem district in mid-June when the patients, after the surgery, lost their eyesight after they took the eye drops given by the hospital.
On news that people who were operated upon have been infected, the state government issued instructions to transfer all the 23 to private and GHs in Salem and Coimbatore.
