Imran's consent obtained for eye procedure: PIMS

In the midst of a controversy over the eye treatment of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on Friday confirmed that an anti-VEGF intravitreal injection was given to treat right central retinal vein occlusion after taking consent from Imran Khan.

The PTI has been voicing concern over Imran's health in the past few days, claiming that the jail authorities and the government were hindering the treatment of his “serious eye condition” and demanding immediate medical attention.

Leaders of opposition parties also brought up the matter and staged a protest against the reports of Imran being shifted to a hospital without informing his family or the party leadership. The government has since confirmed that the former prime minister was briefly shifted to PIMS for medical treatment.

According to the statement issued by PIMS, “In the recent past, Mr Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi (age 74 years) reported reduced vision in his right eye,” the hospital administration said, adding that a senior ophthalmologist from PIMS performed a detailed eye check-up at Adiala Jail.

The check-up included a slit-lamp examination, fundoscopy, measurement of intraocular pressure, necessary laboratory tests, and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) scan of the retina, the statement said.

On the basis of the diagnosis, it was concluded that there was right central retinal vein occlusion.

According to the statement by the institute, after the assessment, the patient was advised to undergo hospital-based follow-up treatment, and Imran Khan was brought to PIMS on Saturday night last week for the purpose of the procedure.

“At the hospital, the treatment plan, including the administration of an anti-VEGF intra-vitreal injection, was explained in detail to the patient,” the statement said, adding that the patient gave consent for the procedure.

PIMS further stated that the procedure was performed in the operation theater following standard sterile procedures and monitoring and took about 20 minutes for completion.

During the course of the treatment, the patient was vitally stable and was later discharged with routine post-procedure care instructions, follow-up, and documentation, the statement concluded.

Also read: PTI claims Imran Khan was secretly shifted to PIMS for eye surgery