The internationally acclaimed vitreo-retinal specialist, Dr Sundaram Natarajan, who conducted surgeries on pellet victims at SMHS hospital, Friday said that the eye injuries among patients in Kashmir are “severe and unique” than other conflict-hit parts in the world.Dr Natarajan, patron of the International Society of Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgeons, who along with his team, conducted more than 46 retina surgeries on the youth who were injured by lethal pellets fired by forces from pellet guns, said that the situation of patients is “large scale disaster.”“The situation (of the patients) is quite bad and grave. The eye injuries to patients here are unique and severe than other parts of the world, especially in conflict regions,” Dr Natarajan said here while briefing journalists about his visit to the hospital.“I have operated patients all over the world, even in conflict regions. But for the first time, I have seen such a large scale of disaster of eye injuries,” he said.Padma Shri awardee, Dr Natarajan was brought here by an NGO, Borderless World Foundation, to conduct surgeries on pellet-hit patients.
Madurai-born ophthalmologist, Dr Natarajan, who is chairman-cum-managing director, Aditya Jyoti Eye Hospital, Mumbai, was accompanied by retina surgeons, Dr Syed Asghar Hussain from Chennai and Dr Kenshuk Marwah from New Delhi.The team conducted 46 surgeries in four days on the victims.“Of the 210 eye injury patients here, 110 require retina and vitreous surgeries. I myself conducted 40 retina and vitreous surgeries and my team conducted six such surgeries,” the renowned surgeon said.Asked about the chances of recovery of eye-sight of the victims, Dr Nataranjan said that would depend on the extent of the injury and follow-up treatment.He said that patients have varied defects caused by pellets, which include retina, vitreous injuries, cordial detachment and traumatic cataract.
“As of now, nothing (about recovery of eye sight) can be said. We can tell about recovery of eye sight after six weeks to six months,” he said.Dr Natarajan was all praise for the ophthalmologists of SMHS Hospital. “SMHS Hospital has a dedicated team of doctors and they have done a commendable job at primary-level. The ophthalmology department is well-equipped and has well trained doctors,” he said.He added that some of the patients would need further surgeries and follow up for almost one year for vision restoration.“We have decided to come here once in a month to see the condition of these patients. Two members are staying here. Some more surgeons are coming from Maharashtra. I will come again on 21 August for follow-up of these patients.” (KNS)