D-7 | Picture of the day | © Stéphane Bouillet

Kiran, 28 years old

After operation of her right eye, Kiran will have an operation on her left eye: she suffers from bilateral cataract known as "youthful", corresponding to a pacification of the crystalline lenses of her 2 eyes and making partially blindness. The cataracts are diseases of degeneration, occuring normally after 70 years old. (BMHRC: Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Center)

Image: © Stéphane Bouillet

In 1984, in addition to the attacks of lungs and digestive system, the toxic gas of Union Carbide burned the eyes; Union Carbide, refusing to give the composition of the toxic cloud, simply recommended the use of ocular drops, decreasing the symptoms.
A follow up study 3 years after exposure to methyl isocyanate in 93% of exposed survivors and "control" residents in 10 Bhopali communities showed an excess of eye irritation, eyelid infection, cataract, and a decrease in visual acuity among the exposed people.
Certain victims have chronic after-effects, like superficial keratites, chronic conjunctivites or cataracts reaching 1 eye or both, and this on abnormally young people.