The Boy from Basra

Yasin Ahmed is a little over five years. He loves playing video games and watching horror films. Nothing can tie down this animated child, neither a stern glare nor a round of scolding from his father. Stop him from jumping over the centre table and he goes on to snatch the handbag from his father. His bright and clear eyes give no clue of the injury or the surgery that this boy from Iraq has undergone.

Yasin was injured in the left eye by a plastic bullet from a toy pistol while playing with his brother. His eye became red and watery and, after about four hours, he complained of diminished vision. Yasin was taken to a hospital in his home town Basra , where a doctor prescribed some eye drops. On their next visit to the doctor, Yasin's parents learnt that he had developed traumatic cataract, which would require surgery. A close friend advised Yasin's father Ahmed Taleb to go to India and get the surgery done at LVPEI. Taleb packed his bags without delay as he did not want to take any chances.

"Unattended cataract at this age has amblyogenic potential; fortunately, the child had partial cataract and did not develop a lazy eye," says Dr R Muralidhar, Consultant, Cornea & Anterior Segment. The child underwent cataract surgery with intraocular lens implantation in April 2010.

Taleb is very pleased with his experience at the Institute. " The doctors are good and the operation went on well," he said. The only thing he found difficult to contend with was the spicy food! "It is too hot for my taste," Taleb said with a smile.