Ophthalmologists plead guilty in Nicosia cataract surgery blindness case

On September 30, 2026, two ophthalmologists in their fifties pleaded guilty to charges of reckless and negligent acts during a court hearing in Nicosia. The case concerns eight patients who suffered permanent vision loss in one eye following cataract surgeries performed at a private hospital on October 13, 2020. After the procedure, all eight victims were infected with a multidrug-resistant strain of the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The prosecution amended the charge sheet prior to the plea, shifting the focus from directly causing the blindness to the act of reusing single-use medical consumables. The revised charge specifies that the doctors put human life at risk and caused potential bodily harm by failing to adhere to safety protocols.

District Judge Pavlos Agapitos has scheduled the next hearing for October 29, 2026. During this upcoming session, prosecutor Elena Konstantinou will present the agreed-upon facts of the case, while defense attorney Marios Spyrou is expected to outline mitigating factors before a sentencing date is finalized. The victims and their families, who are also pursuing separate civil compensation claims, were present in the courtroom for the proceedings.