Melvin Jones Lions Eye Hospital has claimed to have successfully conducted a cataract surgery on a 110- year-old woman, believed to be the oldest person not only in India, but even in the world to have undergone such surgery.
The hospital has begun moves to seek recognition of what it termed “world record” feat through certifying agencies like the World Records Academy even as the woman, Khairun Nisha, is over the moon now. The oldest recorded person having undergone cataract operation successfully was a 109-year-old woman from Shanghai, China. The woman, Guo Liansheng, was operated upon on both eyes in February this year.
Nisha was completely blind with cataract affecting both of her eyes until the late part of April this year when she reported at the eye hospital.
With the operation conducted on one eye successfully in the same month, she is now able to see things clearly. The greatest pleasure, as she confesses, is that she can see her great great grandchildren. Dr Raja Agarwal, who conducted the surgery on Khairun in April this year, said, “we had not realised then that it was a world record feat. It was a difficult decision taking into account the age of the victim, who is more than 100 years old. That we had done it and she has not reported any complications or ill-effects of the procedure has encouraged us to go forward. The academy has sought all information from us, which we have recently submitted.”
The woman belongs to one of the city’s most sought-after family of tailors. The family now has more than 150 members and stretching as deep as great great grandchildren. “She is a remarkable woman. At her age, she is able to walk, sit and stretch and also does most of her own work. Her only problem was loss of eyesight, for which we approached the hospital. And she is able to see again”, her 46-year-old grandson Ashraf Ali says. The eye hospital, meanwhile, has decided to conduct cataract surgery on her left eye soon. “This would be a complimentary operation conducted free of charge as our recognition of the achievement”, Dr Agarwal said.