Eyesight restored after rare surgery at AIIMS Bhopal, fewer than ten such cases have been reported globally

 

Bhopal: In a remarkable achievement, a team of doctors at AIIMS Bhopal has successfully performed a rare and complex eye surgery on a 25-year-old patient, restoring vision after a traumatic accident. The patient, hailing from Jaitwara village near Bhopal, was involved in a severe bike accident on August 20, 2024, and had lost vision in both eyes. 

What made the case even more challenging was that his left eyeball had been traumatically displaced into the ethmoid sinus, a small air-filled space between the eyes. Only a handful of such cases have been reported globally—fewer than ten.

Initially treated at a private hospital, the patient was referred to AIIMS Bhopal on August 26, 2024, after his condition worsened, with persistent headaches, loss of vision, and nasal discharge. Unaware of the severity of the injury, the patient's family believed his left eye had fallen out in the accident. 

However, an NCCT scan at AIIMS Bhopal revealed a more severe condition: pneumocephalus (air in the brain) and the left eyeball trapped deep within the ethmoid sinus.

Team formed to tackle the extraordinary challenge

Given the critical nature of the injury, the surgery required the collaboration of specialists from neurosurgery, ophthalmology, trauma and emergency medicine, and anesthesia. Dr. Amit Agarwal (Neurosurgery), Dr. Bhavana Sharma (Ophthalmology), Dr. B L Soni (Maxillofacial Surgeon from Trauma and Emergency Medicine), and Dr. Vaishali Vendeskar (Anesthesia) formed a team to tackle this extraordinary challenge. They carefully stabilized the patient’s neurological condition before conducting a delicate microsurgery to retrieve and reposition the displaced eye.

“This was an extremely complex case that demanded the combined expertise of multiple departments,” said Dr. Bhavana Sharma, Ophthalmologist, who led the surgery. “The patient’s condition was critical, but thanks to the multidisciplinary approach, we were able to successfully perform the surgery.”

Prof. (Dr.) Ajai Singh, Executive Director of AIIMS Bhopal, lauded the team for their dedication and teamwork. 

The patient is currently recovering and is under close observation. This rare surgery is a significant milestone in the field of ophthalmic and neurosurgical treatment, demonstrating AIIMS Bhopal’s commitment to handling even the most challenging medical cases with precision and care.