In a remarkable medical achievement, surgeons at Rawalpindi's Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital have given the gift of sight back to a 101-year-old patient, Raza Khan from Islamabad. This high-risk procedure was successfully completed after several other specialists declined to operate, citing the patient's advanced age and complex eye condition.
A Daunting Medical Challenge Overcome
The patient, Raza Khan, was suffering from dense cataracts coupled with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a combination that significantly reduces surgical success rates in elderly individuals. His family had approached numerous ophthalmologists across Rawalpindi and Islamabad, only to be turned away due to the perceived high medical risks involved.
The surgical team, led by Dr. Sabeehuddin, employed advanced surgical tools and special protective gels to safeguard the delicate tissues of the eye, a technique crucial for older patients. The head of the cataract department explained that the procedure went beyond simple lens removal, requiring careful management of existing retinal problems that typically lower success chances in the very elderly.
Sentimental Value and Surgical Success
The case held deep sentimental significance for Al-Shifa Trust, as Raza Khan was a close friend of the institution's late founder, Lieutenant General Jahan Dad Khan. Post-operative assessments confirmed a major breakthrough: Khan regained sufficient vision to recognize family members and move around his surroundings independently.
This successful intervention is now recorded as one of the oldest documented cataract surgeries in the region. It stands as a powerful testament to the advancing capabilities within Pakistan's philanthropic healthcare sector, particularly for complex geriatric care.
A Beacon of Hope for Pakistan's Eye Health
This milestone arrives at a critical juncture for visual health in Pakistan. National Survey data indicates approximately 2.7 million blind individuals live in the country, with cataracts responsible for 51% of these cases. Alarmingly, surgical coverage remains below 65% in rural districts, often leaving the elderly in preventable darkness.
Al-Shifa Trust plays a vital role in bridging this gap, with institutional data showing that around 80% of its patients receive treatment either free of charge or at heavily subsidized rates. The trust currently runs six specialized eye hospitals across Pakistan in Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Kohat, Sukkur, Muzaffarabad, and Gilgit, with a seventh facility under construction in Lahore set to open in 2027.
Fueled by community generosity, this achievement underscores how dedicated medical institutions can transform lives and offer hope where the public health system is overstrained, proving that age alone need not be a barrier to sight.
