Acid attack victim regains vision after surgery

Muzaffarnagar acid attack victim Isha, whose left eye was severely damaged, has regained her vision after a successful surgery.

The 23-year-old teacher was discharged from Sir Ganga Ram Hospital today and she wants to go back to her job as soon as possible.

Isha and her three sisters, all teachers, were attacked by two motorcycle-borne men who threw acid on them on April 2 while they were returning from Hindu Inter-College in Kandhal after completing their duty in UP board exams.

She was flown to the hospital here, which later offered to treat her free of cost, on the day of the attack itself as she had her left eye cornea seriously damaged.

“The society should change its attitude towards women. I pray to the God that what happened to me, should not happen to anyone. When I came to this hospital, I was very scared and tensed that I may not be able to see whole of my life. It was all so dark.

“Now I will join my teaching job soon. My students of class 6,7 and 8 whom I teach have been praying for my fast recovery and quick return. I want to meet them,” she said.

Her elder sister Jahan Araa said, “She will take some time to gain confidence.”

Doctors said performance of amniotic membrane transplantation helped bring a substantial part of her eyesight.

Dr A K Grover, Chairman, Department of Opthalmology, said the amniotic membrane was obtained from of one of the prospective donors undergoing caesarean section.

“After cleaning the membrane with balanced salt solution containing a mix of antibiotics, the membrane was implanted in the victim’s eye. I am pleased with the results and hope further improvement in the coming days,” he said.

After eight days of surgery, doctors said, she has shown “remarkable recovery”.

Dr D S Rana, Chairman of Board of Management of the hospital, said, “We are very pleased that the efforts put in by our doctors have not only brought her eyesight back but more importantly her smile and confidence to go back to the society.

—PTI