Imran Khan receives fourth dose of eye injection: PIMS

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on Tuesday said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan received a fourth dose of an intravitreal injection as part of his eye treatment.

According to a statement, Imran was brought to PIMS for follow-up eye treatment on April 28. “Before the procedure, he was examined by ophthalmologists and found to be clinically stable. His optical coherence tomography scan was performed, which showed clinical improvement.”

“After obtaining informed consent and under standard supervision, while adopting all precautionary measures and protocols in the operating room, he received the fourth intravitreal injection under microscopic guidance by surgeons,” the statement said.

Stating that the procedure was carried out as an outpatient surgery, PIMS said Imran “remained extremely stable before, during and after the procedure”, adding that he “was discharged with instructions for further care, follow-up counseling and documentation”.

Read: Government unveils report on Imran’s eye treatment

Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar said in an article on

“I would add that whatever the treatment, our concern remains unanswered: Imran and Bushra Bibi should be transferred to a hospital for treatment under the supervision of their personal doctors, accompanied by family members,” he said.

Gohar said it was their fundamental right and they had been demanding its implementation for a long time.

At the end of January, the former prime minister, still incarcerated at Adiala prison in Rawalpindi, was first taken to hospital for a minor eye operation. Five days later, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said PIMS doctors conducted an eye examination and, after obtaining his written consent, performed a minor medical procedure that lasted about 20 minutes.

Amid controversy surrounding the eye treatment, PIMS confirmed that Imran received an intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF to treat right central retinal vein occlusion.

The confirmation came as PTI continued to express concern over the founder’s health, alleging that prison authorities and the government were obstructing his treatment for a serious eye disease and demanding immediate medical attention, including Imran’s treatment at Shifa International Hospital.

In February, a report prepared by lawyer Salman Safdar on the Supreme Court ruling revealed that Imran had informed authorities that his right eye was functioning at only 15% of its capacity. Safdar submitted the report to a two-member bench. As a result, the Supreme Court ordered that Imran be given access to his personal doctors in Adiala Prison and be allowed to have telephone contact with his sons, Kasim and Sulaiman.

The report, prepared by Safdar after a nearly two-hour meeting with the former prime minister, also said that Imran repeatedly highlighted the “rapid and substantial loss of vision over the previous three months while living and being detained in the care and custody of Adiala Prison Superintendent Abdul Ghafoor Anjum”. He told Safdar that his concerns about his eyes “were not taken seriously or addressed by prison authorities”.

Learn more: More than what we see

Later, a medical board examining Imran reported improvement in his eyesight and did not recommend transferring him to hospital. According to the medical report, Imran’s vision in his right eye improved from 6/36 to 6/9, while his left eye had 6/6 vision with the use of glasses. The assessment was carried out by a committee comprising Dr Nadeem Qureshi and Dr Arif, following a detailed examination at Adiala Prison.

In March, another medical examination was conducted in Adiala, following which PIMS said Imran showed significant improvement in his vision after his second dose of intravitreal anti-VEGF injection. The third dose was then administered on March 23.

Imran’s wife Bushra Bibi also underwent a medical check-up in Adiala in March after complaining of pain in her right eye. She was reportedly examined by Dr Muhammad Arif Khan, head of the ophthalmology department at PIMS. The medical report indicated that she had blurred vision and black spots in her right eye; she also reported seeing lightning in the dark and said she suffered headaches.

Bushra Bibi was diagnosed with posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) in her right eye. The report also identified myopia and astigmatism. After the diagnosis, Bushra Bibi was prescribed eye drops and medication, as well as wearing glasses. He was reportedly recommended a follow-up medical examination after four weeks.

The former first lady then underwent eye surgery on the evening of April 16.

Imran and Bushra Bibi remain incarcerated in Adiala Prison in Rawalpindi. They were sentenced on December 20, 2025, to 17 years in prison in the Toshakhana-II case, which concerns allegations that the couple illegally kept a Bulgari jewelry set given by the Saudi crown prince during an official visit to Saudi Arabia.

Imran has been in custody since August 2023 and is serving a sentence in a £190 million corruption case. He also faces ongoing trials under the anti-terrorism law in connection with the May 9, 2023 protests.