Chennai

An official release here said she also announced a monthly pension of Rs 1,000 each to 21 victims, who had impaired vision following infection, from the differently-abled people pension scheme. It said cataract surgeries were being performed in the state under the National Blindness Prevention Programme every year. A total of 5.5 lakh people are being treated every year.

Stating that Tamil Nadu was ahead of other states in implementing this scheme, it said so far 1.96 lakh people had been operated this year and all of them had regained their vision completely. At Mettur Government Hospital, every year, 928 people undergo cataract surgery. 

The release added that a total of 23 people had contracted infection after undergoing cataract surgeries at Mettur between June 14 and 16 this year. They were immediately provided advanced treatment at Coimbatore Aravind Eye Hospital, Salem Agarwal Hospital and Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Hospital, Salem.

Jayalalithaa also deputed senior ministers to visit the affected people and ensure advanced medical facilities were being provided to them, the release added. After treatment, vision of two of the 23 victims was restored completely. The infection was controlled for 17 patients and according to ophthalmological experts, it would take three months to ascertain whether they would get back their vision. “In respect of the remaining four patients, they continue to have infection and are being treated,” the release said.

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