101-Year-Old Man Regains Sight After Rare Cataract Surgery in Rawalpindi

In a rare medical breakthrough, surgeons at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital in Rawalpindi have successfully restored the eyesight of a 101-year-old man after performing a high-risk cataract surgery that many doctors had declined due to his age and retinal disease.

Raza Khan, a centenarian from Islamabad, suffered from dense cataracts complicated by age-related macular degeneration, a condition that often limits visual recovery in elderly patients.

Several ophthalmologists in Islamabad and Rawalpindi had ruled out surgery, citing serious medical risks and low chances of success.

A specialised surgical team led by Dr Sabeehuddin, head of Al-Shifa’s cataract department, carried out the procedure using advanced microsurgical instruments and protective viscoelastic gels to minimise damage to fragile eye tissues.

“This was not a routine cataract operation,” Dr Sabeehuddin said. “We managed both the cataract and underlying retinal complications to achieve functional visual improvement.”

Post-surgery assessments showed significant recovery. The patient can now recognise family members and move independently, greatly improving his quality of life.

Hospital officials said the case ranks among the oldest successful cataract surgeries recorded in the region.

The achievement holds historical importance for the hospital, as Raza Khan was a close associate of the late Lieutenant General Jehangir Dad Khan, founder of Al-Shifa Trust.

The surgery comes as Pakistan faces a growing eye-care burden. Official estimates show nearly 2.7 million people in the country are blind, with cataracts responsible for about 51 per cent of cases.

Experts say the success highlights advances in geriatric eye surgery and the critical role of philanthropic hospitals in filling gaps in the public healthcare system.