The year was 1993. The Bollywood blockbuster Khalnayak was creating waves across the nation. Every corner echoed the song, “Choli ke Peeche Kya Hai.” Sanjay Dutt, with his iconic black bandage over one eye, grooved in the film, almost as if he were on a secret mission. That black patch, however, reminded us of another image—the state of cataract patients in the 1990s post-surgery.
Back then, cataract surgeries involved large incisions and sutures. Patients were given strict post-operative instructions: “Stay in dim light for about two months, avoid bending, no watching T.V., no reading, and absolutely no bathing for over a month!” Patients lived in constant fear of infections or complications. The thought of losing their vision permanently loomed large, making many hesitant to undergo surgery until the cataract became unbearably advanced. Adding to this fear, stories of mass infections…
