NEW DELHI: Over 220 sight-restoring surgeries were conducted by Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) surgeons during the 10th edition of first-of-its-kind mega eye surgical camp, held under Operation Drishti, at an underground operation theatre in a shelling-prone zone at Tangdhar in Kupwara along the Line of Control in J&K on Friday and Saturday.Most interventions were cataract surgeries, along with selective retinal procedures and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery. Patients from Khawarpora, Tangdar, Tadd, Bagbela, Yangdar and neighbouring hamlets came after screening and a broadcast on Radio Rooh-e-Karnah, with the Indian Army guiding each one from arrival to recovery.
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Over the two days, the camp was visited by Army chief General Dhiraj Seth who interacted with patients and distributed medicines and gifts. DG AFMS Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja also visited the camp and appreciated the surgeons and their team. The camp was led by head of ophthalmology at Army Hospital (Research & Referral), Delhi Cantonment Brigadier Sanjay Kumar Mishra, whose team carried advanced phacoemulsification, vitreoretinal and glaucoma equipment across mountainous terrain.AFMS’s series of mega surgical eye camps envisaged by defence minister Rajnath Singh has, so far, screened over 1.5 lakh patients. Over 3,500 surgeries have been conducted across 10 cities. The 11th camp in this series will be held in Srinagar from Sept 27 to 29. The formal closing ceremony will be attended by J&K LG Manoj Sinha on Sept 30.
