ISLAMABAD, Jan 30 (Alliance News): Days after reports about the health of former prime minister Imran Khan triggered concern within Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) circles, a senior doctor has confirmed that he underwent a medical examination and treatment for a condition affecting his right eye at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), Islamabad.
In a video message released late Friday, Pims Executive Director Dr Rana Imran Sikandar said a team of senior doctors examined the PTI founder after he complained of reduced vision in his right eye. He said doctors found that increased pressure in the blood vessels had temporarily affected his eyesight.
According to Dr Sikandar, a senior physician initially examined Imran Khan at Adiala Jail and recommended further evaluation at Pims. A series of diagnostic tests, including a slit-lamp examination, fundoscopy, intraocular pressure measurement and optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan of the retina, were conducted at the hospital.
Doctors diagnosed the former premier with central retinal vein occlusion, a condition caused by impaired blood flow in the retina due to vascular pressure. The medical team advised immediate specialist treatment, following which Imran Khan was shifted to Pims late at night between Saturday and Sunday.
Dr Sikandar said Imran Khan was fully briefed on his medical condition and the proposed procedure, and written consent was obtained prior to treatment.
The procedure was performed in a sterile operating theatre under close monitoring and was completed successfully in around 20 minutes, with the patient’s vital signs remaining stable throughout.
Following the procedure, the former prime minister was discharged with medical instructions, follow-up advice and relevant documentation for continued care, the hospital administration confirmed.
The medical update came amid political developments as PTI staged a sit-in outside the Supreme Court on Thursday, demanding access to Imran Khan and transparency regarding his health.
PTI leaders sought permission for his family and personal doctors to review his medical condition after reports emerged that he had been taken from Adiala Jail to Pims.
After a meeting with Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said the party had been assured that Imran Khan’s family would be provided with his medical report.
He described the outcome as a partial success and said efforts would continue to ensure meetings between the PTI founder and his family and associates.
Reports of Imran Khan’s hospital visit first surfaced earlier this week, with PTI expressing concerns over his health. While some party leaders said they learned of the treatment through media reports, conflicting claims were also made by family members.
A day later, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar confirmed that the PTI founder had been briefly taken to Pims following medical advice from specialists.
