Approximately 20 individuals who underwent eye surgery at Nuwara Eliya General Hospital have unfortunately experienced a complete loss of vision

The Ministry of Health is currently conducting an investigation into the matter

All eye surgeries of patients have been temporarily suspended in Government hospitals which reported issues where patients had lost their eyesight after treatment

Nuwara Eliya General Hospital Director Dr.Mahendra Seneviratne issuing a statement on May 8 said that 10 patients who had recently undergone eye surgery at the hospital have experienced a complete loss of vision. According to him the cause of the issue was the presence of germs in the medication prednisolone acetate, which was administered to the patients following their eye surgeries at Nuwara Eliya Hospital in April. This medication had been imported from India. 

Following their eye surgeries, the patients returned home and began applying the prescribed medication to their eyes. However, this led to the surfacing of complications, including tearing, burning, severe pain, and low vision in the patients. As a result, the affected individuals were readmitted to Nuwara Eliya General Hospital for further examination. Subsequent tests confirmed that they were completely losing their vision. Dr. Seneviratne acknowledged that although the patients are currently receiving in-patient treatment, it is uncertain whether their vision will be restored to its previous state.  
At present, three patients are undergoing treatment at Nuwara Eliya General Hospital, while three other others are receiving medical care at Kandy Hospital. Furthermore, on April 10, five more patients from Nuwara Eliya General Hospital were referred to the Colombo National Eye Hospital for further treatment. Out of these patients, Thilak Rohitha, was transferred back to Nuwara Eliya General Hospital after doctors confirmed that the extent of damage to his eyes was relatively minimal. Additionally, there is another patient who has been receiving treatment at Colombo National Eye Hospital for the past several days.  
Following our inquiries the Daily Mirror has been able to confirm that approximately 20 individuals who underwent eye surgery at Nuwara Eliya General Hospital have unfortunately experienced complete loss of vision. Patients from Monaragala, Wellawaya, and Badulla underwent eye surgery at Nuwara Eliya. However, according to Dr. Seneviratne, only 14 cases have been reported to the hospital thus far. Presently, the hospital is treating two patients, while the remaining individuals have been transferred to Colombo and Kandy hospitals for further medical attention. Some patients have returned home after receiving treatment, according to Dr. Seneviratne.  
There is a lack of information regarding certain individuals who received treatment and were subsequently discharged. No follow-up measures were conducted by the hospital in those cases. This was confirmed by Dr. Seneviratne himself. “We have to look into the condition of those patients as well. Low vision has been reported. The affected individuals were administered with injections and their vision might improve, but there would be cases where it does not. Treatments are given for an eye infection. The medication in question had been subject to testing prior to use, but there is a possibility that some medications,may contain harmful microorganisms. The Ministry of Health is currently conducting an investigation into the matter. All eye surgeries for patients have been temporarily suspended, and the medication in question is not being utilized at present.” Dr. Seneviratne added.  
The statement issued by Dr. Seneviratne was confirmed by Kandy General Hospital as well. Seventy one-year-old Siripala Jothiratne is a resident of Dampola, Haguranketha. Siripala, currently is at present undergoing treatment in ward 57 of Kandy General Hospital. He underwent eye surgery on April 4 at Nuwara Eliya General Hospital. Following the surgery he received the medication prednisolone acetate. As a result his vision has progressively deteriorated. Ophthalmologists at Kandy General Hospital have informed Siripala that even by undergoing another surgery his vision cannot be restored. Additionally, two other women are presently receiving treatment at Kandy General Hospital and the doctors have confirmed that these individuals would not be able to regain their eyesight in the eyes that were subject to operations. 

 
Reprimanded 
M. Rajaratnam, a resident of Kandapola in Nuwara Eliya, also underwent eye surgery on April 5. Due to the medication administered to his eye after the surgery, he experienced a complete loss of vision in that eye. Initially, for about 15 days after the surgery, his vision seemed to be improving. However, it gradually deteriorated, and he eventually lost all sight in the affected eye. He has experienced pain and continuous watery discharge from the eye. Rajaratnam returned to Nuwara Eliya Hospital on April 19. Upon arrival, the hospital staff reprimanded him saying that he must have made a mistake in applying the medication. Later, when other individuals who had undergone the same surgery began to arrive at the hospital, the hospital authorities disclosed that there was a presence of germs in the medication prescribed for the eye.  
Rajaratnam said, “I received three injections to my affected eye. However, I haven’t yet been informed about the specific germ that entered my eye and whether the eye was damaged”. When he visited the Kandy General Hospital eye clinic, he had been advised to visit Colombo National Eye Hospital immediately for further treatment. Rajaratnam went to Colombo on April 10 for treatment. Even at the time of going to press Rajaratnam remained unaware of the exact nature of the damage to his eye. He added that, like others affected by this issue, he too has completely lost his eyesight.  
Suresh Kumar, the son of Rajaratnam and a resident of Nuwara Eliya, Kandapola, said that three women who had undergone eye surgery were discharged from the hospital since their vision could not be restored. Furthermore, Suresh Kumar sad that there is evidence that approximately 20 patients have experienced complete loss of eyesight. These patients, who had undergone surgery in April, visited the eye clinic of Nuwara Eliya General Hospital on May 9.Many of the affected patients continue to suffer from impaired vision in the eye that was subjected to surgery. Kumar said that they were requested to return to the clinic only after six months. He questioned whether certain authorities are attempting to downplay the issue by suggesting that there are no problems with the eyesight resulting from the medication.  
T. A.Nandasena, a resident of Bandarawela, underwent eye surgery at Nuwara Eliya General Hospital and is currently undergoing treatment at Colombo Eye Hospital. He has admitted himself to the hospital promptly. Nandasena had undergone eye surgery at Nuwara Eliya General Hospital on April 5. However, even after the operation, his vision was not fully restored. He had been using the prescribed eye medication multiple times, but it seemed as though a haze was forming over his eyes. Upon inquiry with Nuwara Eliya General Hospital, it was discovered that numerous other patients who had sought treatment from this hospital reported a loss of vision. As a result, Nandasena also sought further medical attention. Commenting on the seriousness of the treatment given for bad eyesight said, “I was admitted to Nuwara Eliya Hospital on the 22nd. During the eye examination, the doctor applied a liquid to my eye to desensitise the area, but I did not experience any numbness. Later, I received two injections in my eye; which left me in pain. However, as my condition did not improve, I got myself discharged and came to Colombo Eye Hospital. I got my eye checked at a private hospital, and I am currently receiving treatment at Colombo Eye Hospital. I received two injections in my eye, just like before. On the 9th, my eye was washed, but the pain is unbearable,” said Nandasena.   
Another resident of Nuwara Eliya, Thilak Jayaratne, also underwent eye surgery at Nuwara Eliya Hospital, where lenses were inserted on April 5. Subsequently, on the 10, he was transferred from Nuwara Eliya General Hospital to Colombo National Eye Hospital for further examination of the eye damage caused by the medication. Following the assessment, the ophthalmologists determined that there were residual drops of the medication around the lens, which could be surgically removed. The doctors assured that there is no need to be anxious, according to Jayaratne..  
Dr.Chamal Wijesinghe, Media Spokesperson of the Government Medical Officers Association, expressed his concerns regarding the recent incidents. He said that if such problems arise in medicines that are imported using proper procedures, serious issues are likely to occur regarding medications obtained from other sources. He further highlighted that this problem may not be limited to just Nuwara Eliya Hospital or Colombo Eye Hospital, but could potentially affect the entire country in the future. Dr. Wijesinghe stressed that the Minister of Health should promptly intervene and resolve any issues concerning the quality 
of any medication.  
Efforts were made by this writer to reach the Director and Deputy Director of Colombo National Eye Hospital in order to obtain information regarding the patients admitted to the hospital. However, certain individuals at the hospital hindered these attempts. Attempts made to contact Secretary of the Ministry of Health, S. Janaka Sri Chandragupta, were futile. When questioned about the situation and these developments, Dr.Iresha Fernando, Director of Kandy General Hospital, said that there were three patients in the hospital who had initially sought treatment at Nuwara Eliya General Hospital. However, on the 10th, these patients were transferred back to Nuwara Eliya General Hospital after being provided with the necessary treatment.  
Earlier Minister of Health Rambukwella said he would take responsibility for any issues that cropped up with the medicines imported. However, it is unfortunate that neither the minister nor any authority has failed to undertake such responsibility.  

Minister denies allegations   
Responding to allegations regarding his involvement in the procurement of this particular batch of ‘Prednisolone’, Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that he had no involvement in the procurement process and that the drug had been imported to the country for the past seven years. “At the moment we are having discussions with health officials regarding the recent cases,” he added.  

Pre-shipment sample didn’t indicate any contamination: Dr. Gunawardena 

The Daily Mirror also spoke to Director of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardana who said that the batch has been withdrawn ever since there were complaints regarding failed eyesight. When asked whether the samples are not checked as part of the procurement process Dr. Gunawardena said that the pre-shipment sample didn’t indicate any sort of contamination. “They produce millions of drugs and we are not in a position to check all the vials. The contamination may have taken place during transport, storage etc. The investigations are still underway,” said Dr. Gunawardana.
Responding to demands by affected patients seeking compensation, he said that so far there have been no requests, but if the court gives a judgement saying that the government must pay compensation then the government has to consider it. “But so far there are no cases filed in courts,” he added.