ISLAMABAD: A medical examination conducted on PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan by the government on Monday revealed that without glasses, his right eye had only 6/24 partial vision and his left 6/9, but with glasses, his right eye improved to 6/9 and his left achieved perfect 6/6 vision.
The report, issued after a check-up of Khan on February 15 by a five-member medical board, declared a notable improvement in his vision with corrective glasses, which brought his right eye vision to 6/9 and his left eye vision to 6/6. The eye examination was conducted by a five-member medical board led by Dr Prof Nadeem Qureshi, head of the vitreoretinal department at Rawalpindi’s Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, and Dr Prof M Arif, head of ophthalmology at Islamabad’s Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). The report explained that 6/6 vision denotes the ability to see at 6 meters what someone with normal vision sees at the same distance, while 6/9 vision indicates that a person can only see at 6 meters what others see at 9 meters.
In addition to vision tests, the board conducted a slit lamp examination to assess the overall health of Imran’s eyes. The results showed clear corneas in both eyes and no cells in the anterior chamber. The right eye displayed a few fibrillar opacities in the vitreous, with a mild intra-gelhaemorrhage observed at the 6 o’clock periphery.
The report noted moderate retinal haemorrhages in all four quadrants of the right eye, along with cotton wool spots and resolving macular oedema, though the retina itself remained attached.
The left eye was found to be in better condition, with a clear macula and retina attached.
An optical coherence tomography (OCT) test revealed that the swelling in the right eye’s macula was diminishing, with central macular thickness decreasing from 550 to 350 micrometers. The left eye remained within normal limits.
The medical board prescribed Nevanac, Co-sopt, and Systane Ultra eye drops to manage inflammation, elevated intraocular pressure, and dryness.
In addition, the doctors recommended a second dose of anti-VEGF treatment to address abnormal blood vessels in the retina, noting that Imran’s vision had improved from 6/36 to 6/9 in the affected eye, which they considered a positive outcome at this stage.
The board also advised further tests, including optical coherence tomography angiography and fundus fluorescein angiography.
During a follow-up visit on Sunday night, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan and the opposition leader in Senate Allama Raja Nasir Abbas were briefed by Dr Qureshi and Dr Arif on Khan’s condition.
The medical team also updated Khan’s personal physicians, Dr Asim Yousaf and Dr Khurram Mirza, during a 25-minute phone call.
Despite the medical board’s optimism, Dr Aasim Yusuf, Chief Medical Officer of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, expressed concerns about confirming the findings without having personally examined Imran.
In a video message, Dr Yusuf acknowledged the briefing but urged the government to allow him, along with Dr Faisal Sultan or other doctors nominated by Imran Khan’s family, to conduct an in-person evaluation.
He also called for Imran Khan to be transferred to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad for ongoing care.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
Comments