Pakistan Army surgeons restored the sight of two Pakistan Army soldiers who had lost their vision, performing corneal transplants using tissue donated by the late wife of a retired senior Army officer. The successful procedures not only returned vision to the soldiers but also honoured the donor’s legacy through a profound act of service and compassion.
Pakistan has made a medical breakthrough by performing its first corneal transplant from a female donor at the Armed Forces Institute of Ophthalmology (AFIO). The corneas were donated in accordance with the wishes of Major General (Retd) Zafar Mehdi Askari’s late wife. This procedure successfully restored vision to two soldiers, Aliullah (30) and Falak Sher (26), who were injured during counter-terrorism operations.
Specialist surgeons from the Pakistan Army performed a procedure that is being celebrated as a historic advancement. Zehra Mehdi, the daughter of the donor, expressed her pride, stating, “My mother’s eyes helping brave soldiers is a source of eternal charity.” The success of the AFIO highlights Pakistan’s growing medical expertise.
Despite reaching this milestone, experts emphasise the critical shortage of organs available for transplantation. Social misconceptions and religious beliefs contribute to this lack of donations, resulting in 10 to 15 daily deaths in Pakistan due to the unavailability of organs. Medical professionals are advocating for reforms to encourage both living and posthumous donations, as well as exploring xenotransplantation as a potential solution to this crisis.
