KOLKATA: Hospitals and eye clinics in the city are seeing a sudden rush for cataract and other emergency eye surgeries after two years of pandemic-induced interruptions left scores of patients with partial loss of vision and even irreversible eye damage.
Such is the rush that many ophthalmologists are struggling to accommodate patients.
With non-Covid treatment resuming fully at most hospitals, the number of cataract and other eye surgeries could double over the next few months, hospitals confirmed.
At Disha Eye Hospitals, which has branches across the state, there have been more than 20,000 cataract operations since March, covering a period of just three months. This number had dropped to 55,000 in 2020-2021, according to managing director and eye surgeon Debashis Bhattacharya. “In March this year, we had 11,000 cataract operations, which is the highest ever in Disha. This month, we already have bookings for 7,000 surgeries, which, too, has never happened in May, when the number drops. While we used to do 5,000 cataract operations in May before Covid, this time the number could be more than double,” Bhattacharya said.
A huge backlog has resulted in this rush, he said. “Thousands had to defer their eye surgeries over the last two years and they can’t wait any longer. While many have suffered partial loss of vision, delayed surgery has resulted in hard cataract and other complications for many,” said Bhattacharya.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/after-pandemic-delay-rush-for-cataract-surgery-in-kolkata/articleshow/91901804.cms