15-year-old Dhikshit Anoop’s life was upended following a classroom accident that left him partially blinded and in need of extensive medical treatment.
What began as a seemingly minor incident—an eye injury sustained from a thrown ballpoint pen—quickly escalated into a severe condition requiring two surgeries and a lengthy recovery period.
The incident occurred when Dhikshit, a student at a local school, was struck in the right eye by a pen thrown by one of his classmates. The impact caused a deep corneal tear and a traumatic cataract, posing a significant risk of permanent blindness.
Dhikshit’s mother, Greeshma Anoop, received the initial call about her son’s injury and assumed it would be a minor issue requiring just a few days of eye drops. However, the gravity of the situation became clear only when they reached the hospital.
Initial Response and Diagnosis
Dhikshit was brought to Aster Hospital Mankhool approximately 4-5 hours after the incident. By that time, his eye was in a critical condition.
Dr. Parth Hemantkumar Joshi, an ophthalmologist at the hospital, described the initial examination. “When he first came to the hospital, his eye was in a terrible condition. His cornea, lens, and vitreous were injured,” Dr. Joshi told Khaleej Times.
“We informed the parents about the nature of the injury, the required treatment in a two-staged approach, and a relatively long recovery period of around four to six months with visual rehabilitation.”
The development of a cataract following such a severe open-eye injury is not uncommon, occurring in up to 60 percent of similar cases. Dhikshit’s injury required immediate intervention to prevent further damage and potential loss of sight.
Surgical Interventions
The first surgery was performed to close the wound and prevent infection. “The first step was to close the wound to prevent further infection and potential loss of sight,” Dr. Joshi explained. “We secured it with stitches thinner than human hair. The procedure was done under general anesthesia and took around 45 minutes.”
After the initial surgery, Dhikshit was allowed to go home, and the stitches were left to heal for over a month. During this time, Greeshma described the challenges the family faced. “Dhikshit is a football player, and I would hardly see him at home for more than half an hour,” she said.
“But during this time, he was not allowed to go out, play sports, or lift heavy things. Luckily, the doctor allowed him to watch TV. I would download some movies and series for him. He was not a big movie fan but now he enjoys it. My younger son is four years old. He would try to be with Dhikshit and cheer him up all the time.”
Once the stitches had healed, Dhikshit underwent his second surgery. Dr. Joshi elaborated on the procedure: “After the eye was stabilized, we undertook the second, more definitive procedure. During this, all the damaged structures of the eye, like the lens and the vitreous, were removed and replaced.”
“The procedure took a little over an hour. Eventually, we could save up to 75 to 80 percent of his eyesight, which was an excellent outcome considering that he had zero vision in the right eye when he came in.”
Dr. Gazala Hasan Mansuri, an ophthalmologist who assisted in the case, emphasized the importance of timely treatment. “Whenever there is a traumatic injury, it is of utmost importance to manage it in time,” she said. “Any exposure to infection could be disastrous in such cases.”
Family’s Journey and Recovery
Greeshma expressed gratitude for the medical team and their support. “Dr. Parth explained each procedure in detail at every step of the way,” she said. “We had briefly considered going back to India for the procedure, but we felt like we could trust Dr. Parth.”
She also praised Dhikshit for his strength and resilience throughout the ordeal. “We were shattered, to be honest,” she said.
“But he was really cool about it, and that gave us some strength. He would not even let us take time off work to stay with him at home. He said that us parents being home and stressing about him would stress him out, so we hardly took any leave. He was also on time with his medication, eye care, and doctor visits.”
Dhikshit’s return to school was met with a warm reception from his teachers and classmates. “His teachers and friends were happy to have him back,” Greeshma said.
“His teacher said his entire class had fallen silent after the incident. He is happy to be back but is heartbroken because he will have to miss playing for the under-15 football tournament in school in October.”
Long-Term Outlook
Dr. Joshi provided an update on Dhikshit’s ongoing recovery. “Dhikshit will have to wear glasses due to the incident, even though he did not need any before,” he said.
“The corneal shape was altered because of the injury. The eyesight is continuing to recover. Vision is up to 80 percent now, and we are hoping that over the next few months, it will improve further.”
The accident has had a profound impact on Dhikshit’s life, but his journey through recovery highlights both the resilience of the young teenager and the dedication of the medical professionals who worked tirelessly to save his vision.
As Dhikshit continues his rehabilitation, his story serves as a reminder of the importance of safety and timely medical intervention in the face of unexpected emergencies.