- PTI leader brought to Pims with his consent, hospital authorities say.
- Anti-VEGF injection administered as part of eye care therapy: Hospital.
- Procedure performed according to strict medical protocols in theatre: Pims.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has undergone a third eye procedure at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), where doctors declared his vision satisfactory after a detailed examination, hospital authorities said on Monday.
The former prime minister was taken to the hospital with his consent, where he received a third anti-VEGF injection as part of his ongoing treatment, according to a statement issued by the hospital administration.
The procedure was performed in an operating theater under strict medical protocols and precautions, it noted.
A medical board assessed his condition after the procedure and expressed satisfaction with his vision, the hospital said. Officials stressed that the PTI leader remained stable throughout and was discharged shortly after treatment.
Monday’s procedure marks the latest phase in his eye care. He was earlier shifted to the hospital from Adiala prison on February 24 when he received the second dose after an extensive examination.
At the time, cardiology tests, including echocardiography and an electrocardiogram, had shown him normal results, and he was declared medically stable, according to an earlier statement.
On March 18, his medical check-up was completed by a newly constituted board of five doctors and staff of the Adiala jail following instructions from the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
Earlier this month, the IHC directed the capital’s chief commissioner to set up a medical board to assess his health condition while rejecting a petition for transfer to a private hospital.
The jailed PTI founder was diagnosed with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), a serious eye disease, according to a report submitted to the Supreme Court by his lawyer and the court’s amicus curiae, Salman Safdar.
The condition occurs when the main vein that drains blood from the retina becomes blocked and is often associated with cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and heart disease.
Sources said the medical team, comprising five doctors and supporting medical staff, conducted a thorough two-hour assessment during which they examined the PTI founder’s affected eye.
The team includes ENT specialist Professor Altaf Hussain, cardiologist Professor Akhtar Ali Bandesha, Dr Muhammad Ali Arif and Professor Nadeem Qureshi from Al-Shifa Eye Hospital.
SC report
The PTI founder’s health emerged as the latest bone of contention between the government and the opposition comprising the PTI and TTAP alliance following a report filed in the Supreme Court by his lawyer and SC’s amicus curiae Barrister Salman Safdar.
The report revealed that the PTI founder was diagnosed with a serious eye disorder known as central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).
CRVO is a disorder that commonly affects older adults and is associated with underlying cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and heart disease.
Furthermore, the report stated that the former prime minister – who has been in prison since August 2023 – has complained of losing 85% of the vision in his right eye.
Khan, 73, has been jailed since August 2023 following convictions he and his PTI say are politically motivated.
Since his ouster in 2022 in a vote of no confidence, he has faced several cases, including over state gifts and an illegal marriage.
Some sentences have been suspended or overturned pending appeals. He pleads not guilty.
