Islamabad – Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan underwent a follow-up eye examination at Adiala Jail on Tuesday, with the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) reporting a “remarkable” improvement in his vision, according to a press release issued by the hospital.
The examination, conducted by a medical board including Dr. Nadeem Qureshi, head of the vitreoretinal department at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, and Dr. M. Arif Khan, head of ophthalmology at PIMS, was a follow-up to a second intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF administered to Khan last month. Anti-VEGF treatment is used to reduce leaking blood vessels in the retina, slowing or stopping vision loss and potentially improving vision, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
PIMS stated that the examination included assessments of visual acuity, fundoscopy, slit lamp examination, and optical coherence tomography. “The board concluded that his vision has improved remarkably, which is substantially great vision at this stage,” the press release said. Doctors recommended continued care and treatment as previously planned.
However, Khan’s political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), swiftly rejected the PIMS press release, asserting that any medical examination conducted without the presence of Khan’s personal physicians and immediate family lacked “transparency and credibility.”
“Any medical examination conducted without the presence of his personal physicians and his immediate family lacks transparency and credibility,” a PTI statement read. The party reiterated concerns raised over months regarding Khan’s health, access to independent medical care, and the denial of family-supervised evaluations.
PTI demanded that Khan be immediately examined by his personal physicians and family members, and called for his transfer to Shifa International Hospital for a “independent, transparent and comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.” “Nothing short of this will be acceptable,” the statement concluded, warning that the continued refusal to allow independent medical access was deepening public concern.
Khan’s eye ailment, identified as right central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), first came to light in late January. His initial medical procedure was confirmed by the government five days after reports surfaced in the media. Subsequently, Khan’s lawyer, Salman Safdar, informed the Supreme Court that the former premier had experienced significant vision loss in his right eye even as in custody.
A medical team initially examined Khan at Adiala Jail on February 15th. On February 24th, he was transported to PIMS for a follow-up, receiving a second dose of the anti-VEGF intravitreal injection. The transfer to PIMS on February 24th involved a 15-vehicle convoy accompanied by signal jammers and a heavy security escort, according to reports.
The government and opposition have been engaged in a dispute over transparency in Khan’s medical care, with the opposition accusing the government of inadequate treatment and restricted access for Khan’s personal physicians. The government has denied these allegations.
Last month, 14 former international cricket captains, including Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, issued a statement calling for improved prison conditions for Khan, recognizing his achievements as “one of the finest all-rounders” in the sport.
