Imran brought to PIMS for follow-up treatment, undergoes fourth eye procedure

ISLAMABAD: PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan received a fourth intravitreal anti-VEGF injection at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and was discharged on Tuesday morning, according to the hospital administration.

Imran last underwent the anti-VEGF intravitreal injection on March 23. His eye ailment — right central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) — came to light in late January. His first medical procedure was carried out on January 24, and he was administered the second dose on Feb 24.

According to the PIMS spokesperson, Imran, 74, was brought to the hospital on April 28 for follow-up eye treatment, during which he received a fourth intravitreal injection.

“Prior to the procedure, he was examined by the ophthalmologists and was found to be clinically stable,” the statement said, adding that Imran’s “optical coherence tomography was performed, which showed clinical improvement”.

“After obtaining informed consent and under standard monitoring, adopting all standard precautionary measures and protocols in the operating theatre, he was injected with a fourth dose of intravitreal injection under the guidance of microscopy by the surgeons,” the spokesperson added.

“The procedure was performed as a day care surgery. 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 and follow-up advice and documents,” the hospital spokesperson said.

Following the last procedure, a senior doctor at Pims, with the knowledge of the matter, said that “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 had explained.

Over the past few months, 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.

The opposition has also demanded that the former premier be shifted to Shifa International Hospital.