Imran undergoes third eye procedure at Pims

In a statement issued by the hospital, the PTI founder was brought to Pims for a third dose of an anti-VEGF intra-vitreal injection.

He remained vitally stable before, during and after the procedure.

A senior doctor at Pims with knowledge of the matter said that the former premier was brought to the hospital as the third injection was due.

After obtaining informed consent, and under standard monitoring, precautionary procedures and protocols in the operation theatre, the injection was administered under the guidance of microscopy by surgeons, Pims said.

“The injection was administered and then he was kept there for a while to ensure that he was stable, and then it was allowed to shift him to Adiala Jail,” he said, adding that the injection was administered in the eye chamber.

“As usually three injections are administered (in such cases), it is unlikely that a fourth injection will be administered. However, the impact of the injection is assessed after four weeks, so it will be decided after four weeks whether another dose will be required or not,” he explained.

Imran’s eye ailment — right central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) — came to light in late January. His first medical procedure, which was carried out on January 24, was confirmed by the government five days after reports surfaced about it in the media.

Subsequently, Imran’s lawyer, Salman Safdar, told the Supreme Court that the former premier had lost a significant amount of vision in his right eye while in custody.

A five-member team had initially examined Imran at Adiala jail on Feb 15. On Feb 24, Imran was brought to Pims for a follow-up. According to a Pims doctor, Imran was brought to the hospital for a second dose of anti-VEGF intravitreal injection.

The government and the opposition have been engaged in a blame game, with the latter accusing the former of a lack of transparency on the matter, of not ensuring appropriate treatment for Imran, and of not allowing his personal physicians access to him. The government denies these allegations.