Imran administered third dose of eye injection: PIMS

The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) said on Monday that former premier and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan was administered his third dose of anti-VEGF intra-vitreal injection.

"Prior to the procedure, he was examined by the ophthalmologists and was found to be vitally stable,' the PIMS administration said in a press release.

Imran was first taken to the hospital in late January for a minor eye procedure. Five days later, Information Minister Ataullah Tarar said that doctors at PIMS had conducted another examination of his eyes and, after obtaining his written consent, carried out a minor medical procedure that lasted around 20 minutes.

Earlier in March, another medical check-up was conducted at Adiala jail, after which PIMS stated that Imran had shown significant improvement in his vision following his second dose of an intravitreal anti-VEGF injection.

According to the release issued by hospital today, Imran was injected with the third dose "under guidance of microscopy by the surgeons," after his informed consent was obtained.

The hospital administration stated that the procedure took place under standard monitoring and with the adoption of all standard precautionary measures and protocols in the operating theatre.

Read More: Imran's 'hospital admission' worries PTI

The procedure was performed as day-care surgery, the administration said. It added that "during the course of his stay, he remained vitally stable before, during and after the procedure and was discharged along with instructions for further care follow-up advice and documents."

Reacting to the statement issued by the PIMS, the PTI raised concerns over the circumstances surrounding the medical treatment of founder.

In a statement on X, the party questioned the timing and transparency, noting that a press release had been issued in the early hours of the morning regarding Imran's transfer from Adiala jail for an eye procedure.

PTI also questioned why Imran’s personal physicians were being denied access, and why his family had not been allowed to meet him. The party further asked for clarity on the situation, raising concerns about what it described as a lack of transparency.

Imran has been in custody since August 2023, serving a sentence at Adiala Jail in a £190 million corruption case. He also faces pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act in connection with protests on May 9, 2023.

The PTI has intensified calls for his release after a medical report submitted to the Supreme Court stated that vision in his right eye had dropped to 15 per cent. Government officials, however, maintain that he is receiving appropriate medical care.

Last month, a medical board that examined Imran reported an improvement in his eyesight and did not recommend transferring him to a hospital. According to his medical report, his vision in his right eye has improved from 6/36 to 6/9, while his left eye retains 6/6 vision with the use of glasses. The assessment was conducted by Dr Nadeem Qureshi and Dr Arif Khan, following a detailed examination at Adiala jail.

Read This: Medical board reports improvement in Imran Khan’s eye condition

According to the medical report, the anterior segment of both eyes was normal and the cornea was clear. It noted mild intragel haemorrhage at the edge of the right eye and moderate retinal haemorrhage in all four quadrants. Swelling in the macula of the right eye was subsiding, with macular thickness reduced from 550 to 350 microns.

The board outlined ongoing medication and treatment and recommended OCT angiography and fundus fluorescein angiography after completion of anti-VEGF therapy, the report added, while no recommendation was made for Imran’s transfer to a hospital.