Doctors at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital have successfully performed a rare, life-saving operation on a three-day-old newborn suffering from an aggressive congenital eye tumor, saving the infant through emergency surgery.
The baby, from a village in Jhelum district, was brought to the hospital shortly after birth with a rapidly progressing tumor affecting one eye. Following an urgent assessment, specialists decided that immediate surgery was the only option to prevent the disease from causing further life-threatening complications.
The complex procedure was carried out by a multidisciplinary team comprising Dr. Tayyab Afghani, Dr. Faizan Tahir, Dr. Ali Raza Syed and Dr. Aiman, with support from anesthetists, nurses and other clinical staff. Due to the advanced nature of the disease, surgeons removed the affected eye to completely remove the tumor and save the infant’s life.
Doctors said a normal newborn eyeball weighs about three grams, but the tumor removed from the infant weighed 285 grams, about 95 times the normal weight of a newborn eyeball. According to the treating team, this appears to be the first documented case in Pakistan of a 285-gram congenital eye tumor being successfully treated in a three-day-old infant.
Dr. Tayyab Afghani said the operation was successful and the infant was recovering well under close medical supervision. He said the baby’s condition had stabilized and doctors were satisfied with the post-operative progress.
He said congenital eye tumors in newborns are uncommon but can progress rapidly if not diagnosed and treated without delay. Early referral to a specialized eye care facility, he added, can significantly improve the chances of successful treatment and reduce the risk of serious complications.
Dr. Afghani appreciated the parents for seeking medical care promptly, saying their timely decision enabled doctors to intervene before the disease advanced further. He urged parents to seek immediate medical attention if a newborn develops an unusually enlarged eye, persistent swelling, abnormal eye appearance or any other unusual changes around the eye, as early diagnosis can be critical.
He said the child will continue to receive regular follow-up care to ensure proper healing. Once recovery is complete, the hospital plans to fit the infant with a custom-made artificial eye to promote normal facial growth, improve appearance and support healthy development as the child grows.
The hospital said the case highlights the importance of specialized pediatric eye care and timely intervention in managing rare congenital eye conditions, particularly during the first days of life when prompt treatment can be lifesaving.
