What is the anti-VEGF injection given to Imran Khan?

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan was shifted back to Adiala jail after undergoing an eye examination and receiving an anti-VEGF injection at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pim), marking the latest in a series of hospital visits for treatment of his right eye.

According to the PIMS administration, Khan was brought to the hospital during the intervening night of November 10 and 11, where doctors carried out a medical examination and assessed his eye condition.

“A team of ophthalmologists administered an “anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injection” to the affected eye with Khan’s consent and after taking the necessary precautions,” the hospital said.

PIMS said that Khan remained medically stable before, during and after the procedure and was discharged at around 2:30am.

It was the sixth time Khan had been brought from jail to Pims for medical treatment. He has now received a total of six anti-VEGF injections, with his previous hospital visit for the same treatment taking place about five months ago.

What is an anti-VEGF injection?

An anti-VEGF injection is a treatment used for certain diseases affecting the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.

VEGF, or vascular endothelial growth factor, is a protein that helps the body form new blood vessels. However, excessive VEGF activity in the eye can cause abnormal blood vessels to grow or leak fluid and blood, leading to swelling of the retina and potentially damaging vision.

Anti-VEGF medicines work by blocking the effects of this protein. The injections are administered directly into the eye to help reduce swelling, prevent further damage and, in some cases, improve vision.

The treatment is commonly used for several retinal conditions and may need to be repeated over time, depending on the patient’s condition and response to treatment.

Khan diagnosed with retinal vein blockage

Khan, who has been in jail since August 2023 and is facing multiple cases, had complained of eye pain and deteriorating vision during his imprisonment.

He was first given an anti-VEGF injection on January 24, 2026, after doctors diagnosed him with central retinal vein occlusion in his right eye, according to medical information submitted earlier this year.

The condition occurs when blood flow through the main vein draining the retina becomes blocked, which can lead to bleeding and swelling inside the eye and cause blurred or reduced vision.

A medical report submitted to the Supreme Court in February said vision in Khan’s right eye had fallen to 15 per cent.

According to the report, Khan said that his vision in both eyes had been normal until October 2025, but he subsequently began experiencing persistent blurring.

Doctors use anti-VEGF treatment in some cases of retinal vein occlusion to control complications, particularly swelling caused by fluid leaking into the retina.

PIMS said in a statement issued on Wednesday that Khan’s vital signs remained within the normal range and that he had been given the necessary medical advice for further treatment and follow-up.