Thirty four persons underwent free cataract surgery at an eye camp conducted by a private hospital at Nellore on October 19 and 20. Fifteen patients had reported back to the private hospital in Nellore with pain, redness and blurring vision. After initial treatment, twelve patients were brought to Sankara Nethralaya in Chennai.     
The patients showed infection due to the bacteria 'Pseudomonas Aeruginosa' and the origin of infection was probably from a single source. Four patients, who had very severe infection, underwent evisceration (removal of the contents of the eyeball) to prevent spread of the infection into the meninges.     
"These four patients are blind in one eye", said Dr S S Badrinath, Chairman of Sankara Nethralaya Hospital. He said the eye condition of the remaining eight patients, who underwent surgery in the Hospital to help and try salvage vision, was critical.  

Of course, an Institute of repute had held the free eye camp at Nellore. The intention of the Institute was noble, no doubt. However, such acts are to be judged by the result and not by the intention, howsoever righteous and gracious it might have been.  

And, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah has directed the Nellore district administration to register a case against Bollineni Eye Hospital management for the incident. The case will go on and some time in the distant future, judgment will be delivered.

Yet, think of the innocent individuals who went to the camp with hopes of improvement in vision and who had to lose vision in the eye.

Surgeries in such ‘camps’ are not to be encouraged.  Camps can at best serve to diagnose ailments and to recommend further treatment. In effect, they could at best be screening camps. Any post diagnosis follow-up will have to be only at the formal surgical room in the Hospital after taking due precaution.  Obviously, some infection has penetrated the surgical procedure in the camp. Let’s hope this will serve as an eye opener.