Sponge-in-eye case 'not result of human error'

A tiny sponge fragment has been left in the eye of a glaucoma patient during surgery at Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital.

But a top Hospital Authority executive officer has ruled out any human error in the incident.

The sponge fragment, one millimetre by one millimetre, was discovered in a female patient's eye in a follow-up check hours after the surgery.

The patient underwent a second operation to remove the object.

Dr Loretta Yam, chief executive of Hong Kong East group of hospitals, said it was a 'very rare accident' which had not involved any human blunder.

During the surgery on June 18, she said, doctors had applied six sponges soaked in anti-cancer liquid medicine on the incision in the eye for a few minutes.