Patient left permanently blind in one eye after waiting six months for surgery at a South African hospital

A patient has been left permanently blind in their right eye after waiting for six months for retinal surgery at Steve Biko Academic Hospital’s Eye Clinic in Tshwane.

The delay in the surgery was caused by failures of the compressor and suction systems required to operate the constellation machine.

These compressors and suction systems at Steve Biko Academic Hospital’s Eye Clinic have broken down and have yet to be replaced.

Madeleine Hicklin, a member of the Gauteng Legislature, has called on the Gauteng MEC for Health, Faith Mazibuko, and Head of Department, Darian Barclay, to intervene.

She wants them to ensure the procurement of the required equipment to restore retinal surgery services at Steve Biko Academic Hospital.

“This must urgently be done to prevent more patients from suffering avoidable and permanent vision loss,” Hicklin said.

She said that the suspension of retinal surgery at Steve Biko’s Eye Clinic was brought to their attention by a patient who has been living with a detached retina since February.

Despite multiple consultations at the Steve Biko and Mamelodi Eye Clinics, he did not receive the urgent surgery he required.

A procedure was only recently performed at Mamelodi Eye Clinic to try to save his left eye. He has since been referred to Steve Biko.

He is one of many patients who suffered due to prolonged delays in repairing the equipment needed for retinal surgery at Steve Biko’s Eye Clinic.

Another patient confirmed this, stating that during a follow-up examination, the clinic informed him that it was not performing retinal surgeries.

“Specialists even raised R10,000 to purchase a replacement compressor themselves so that retinal surgeries could continue,” she said.

However, hospital management rejected the offer, insisting that the procurement had to follow the Gauteng Department of Health’s Supply Chain Management processes.

“A WhatsApp message shared with us confirms the frustration among specialists,” Hicklin said in a statement.

“They believe unnecessary procurement delays have prevented the resumption of retinal surgeries and placed patients at risk.”