From darkness to light: Chennai musician regains sight after 28 years

Chennai: After 28 years of darkness, Chennai-based music director Shankar Ganesh’s has finally regained sight.  

The talented composer had lost vision in one of his eyes after a bomb hidden in a gift parcel sent by his fan exploded in 1986. The bomb had also injured both of his palms.

"I was at the peak of my career during the 80's and fan mails were common. One day I got a parcel wrapped in foil. I remember opening it and then there was a loud blast followed by a cloud of smoke darkness. My eyes were stinging and my hands were badly damaged as I was holding the parcel. I was shivering all the while when I was rushed to the hospital. I still wear gloves to cover the scars on my hands," Ganesh said.

Ganesh can once again see the world around him after doctors implanted an artificial lens using biological glue in his damaged eye, also removing his cataractous lens. All these years, Ganesh life was an everyday struggle with blurred vision.

"Though I could drive with difficulty, I could not read and do any intricate activities. When I went for an eye checkup at Dr Agarwal's a few months ago doctors found that there was severe damage to my right eye," he said.

"Vision in his right eye was gone and his left eye was partially damaged," said Dr Amar Agarwal who restored the musician's vision. "Several shards had pierced his cornea and done permanent damage. We did a 'glued IOL' surgery on him, and three weeks ago the surgery was found to be a success."

"We implanted an intraocular lens in his eye with a biological glue which helped him regain vision after a few days," he added.

Watch: Shankar Ganesh praises legendary musician A R Rahman

Full View