Imran Khan given fourth eye injection during follow-up at PIMS

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan was administered a fourth intravitreal eye injection at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on Tuesday during a follow-up visit for his ongoing treatment, according to a medical update issued by the hospital.

The hospital said Khan, who is currently incarcerated at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail, was brought to Pims for the fourth dose as part of his scheduled eye care.

Ophthalmologists examined him before the procedure and found him clinically stable. The hospital added that an Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) scan indicated clinical improvement.

Pims said the injection was administered in the operation theatre under microscopic guidance after informed consent was obtained and while standard monitoring was in place. The hospital said all precautionary measures and protocols were followed during the procedure.

The statement said the treatment was carried out as a day-care surgery and that Khan remained vitally stable before, during and after the procedure. He was later discharged with instructions for further care, follow-up advice and related medical documents, it added.

Ongoing treatment and earlier examination

Tuesday’s procedure was the latest stage in Khan’s eye treatment. He had previously been shifted from Adiala jail to the hospital on March 23, when he received the third dose after a comprehensive examination.

Earlier, on March 18, his medical check-up was completed by a newly constituted board made up of five doctors and staff members at Adiala jail on the instructions of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

Diagnosis cited in court report

A report submitted to the Supreme Court by his lawyer and the court’s amicus curiae, Salman Safdar, stated the jailed PTI founder was diagnosed with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), which is a serious eye condition.

The condition occurs when the main vein responsible for draining blood from the retina becomes blocked. It is often associated with cardiovascular risk factors including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and heart disease.

The same report stated that the former prime minister has complained of losing 85% of the vision in his right eye.

Political backdrop

Khan’s health has become a fresh point of dispute between the government and the opposition, which includes PTI and the TTAP alliance, following the submission of the report to the Supreme Court by his lawyer and Barrister Salman Safdar in his capacity as amicus curiae.

Seventy-three-year-old Khan has been in jail since August 2023 after convictions that he and his party say are politically motivated.

Since his removal from office through a no-confidence vote in 2022, he has faced multiple cases, including matters related to state gifts and an unlawful marriage. Some of those convictions have been suspended or overturned, while appeals remain pending. He denies wrongdoing.