Ten people lost their vision and 20 were hospitalized for severe eye infection as result of undergoing a cataract surgery following a 'free eye camp' organised by a private corporate hospital in Nellore.

Presently these people are being treated at Sankar Netralaya in Chennai.

State government has ordered a probe into the matter. Doctors in Chennai have confirmed that post-surgery complications resulted in reduced vision in these patients.

A 'free eye camp' was conducted by Global Eye Foundation on Oct 18 at a couple of villages in Indukurpet mandal. People who lost their vision were among the 24 people operated upon by a team of doctors at Bollineni Eye Hospital and Research Centre in Nellore town on October 20.

Next day 15 of these patients came back to hospital with complaints of severe pain and a burning sensation. These patients were immediately shifted to Sankara Nethralaya in Chennai on the same day.

Doctors had to remove eyeballs of four persons to stop spreading of infection in other parts of body.

Nellore district collector K Ramgopal said: "We have launched the probe. We have directed the hospital authorities to stop all operations till the probe is completed."