Last Updated on May 10, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta
When we hear about Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, the first thing that comes to our mind is that he was a star cricketer with one eye who had dominated the game like any other accomplished batter. The Nawab of Pataudi or Tiger, as he was known, had played 46 Tests for India out of which he captained in 40. It was not that the man, who has been the youngest ever to captain his country, had a problem in his eye since birth. Pataudi had lost his right eye in a road accident in England’s Hove city but did not give up playing cricket.
Why did we mention Pataudi here? It is because his story should be an inspiration for those people from small towns and villages who often fail to take minor challenges in life head on.
Rahul Meena, a resident of Chaiki village in Kurawar tehsil of Rajgarh district of Madhya Pradesh, located around 136 kilometres from capital Bhopal, also went through a similar experience in life. He suffered from chicken pox in his childhood as a result of which he developed a squint eye which turned brown. He also suffered a loss of vision in that eye and it took a toll on his confidence. People taunted him for his disability. When Meena tried to get married as he became eligible, he faced a backlash from people. The man became so depressed that he started leading a secluded life.
When superstitions snatch eyes
Meena’s eyes were not defective from birth. “I had chickenpox when I was just four. A problem started in my right eye at that time and due to lack of timely treatment, I suffered loss of vision,” he said. The man blames his family’s superstitious beliefs for such an adverse consequence.
In his childhood, Meena compromised with a life with defective vision but after growing up, he took an initiative to bring happiness and self-confidence back in his life. He started meeting doctors and experts to find a solution to his problem and after two years, he came to know about availability of prosthetic eyes at Sudarshan Netrayala from a relative who lives in Bhopal. He reached Bhopal soon and underwent various tests and examinations before going for the artificial eyes. Meena spent Rs 30,000 to get the eyes.
What experts say
Dr Prateek Gujar, an ophthalmologist at Sudarshan Netrayala, said, “Loss of eyesight is something that concerns everybody. If a person loses his/her eyesight in a disease or accident, life becomes very difficult for him/her. With eyesight, they also face a loss of self-confidence and self-respect. We try to make people’s lives normal again. In medical science, prosthesis has made a significant contribution in this regard. Through this, artificial organs such as eyes, nose, ears, fingers, etc. that look no different from real ones are made for people having disabilities. However, the procedure is different from plastic surgery. In this particular genre that sees a unique combination between medical science and fine art, the use of silicone, acrylic, and artistic painting lead to creations that give relief to many people.”
The concept of artificial eyes was not very known in our society earlier but now it is becoming widely recognised. Earlier one could make these eyes, which were called stone eyes, but with the advancement of technology and material, they look so natural that one cannot differentiate them from the real ones. Also, the procedure of fitting the prosthetic eye doesn’t require removing the defective eye. They last between 10 to 15 years after which, they can be given a new look again at a small expense. One can take part in activities such as swimming besides doing everyday work wearing prosthetic eyes. Even health insurance covering them is available.
Know these aspects
The procedure of fitting prosthetic eyes is not a long one. Those who have already gone through it will know that they have to stay at the hospital for the same for a minimum of two nights. They get released once they start feeling normal with the new eyes. They also need to take care of the eyes’ dressing.
Meena has been through the procedure. He looks happy and seems to have regained his confidence. He looks after agriculture work in the village, faces little social taunts, and feels optimistic about his future.
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