At least 22 people may have lost their eyesight after contracting infection following a botched cataract surgery in Madhya Pradesh's Barwani area.

As many as 35 elderly men and women underwent cataract surgery at a health camp organised between 16 and 24 November. Most of them are undergoing treatment for eye infection at a hospital in Indore.

"An eye check-up camp for cataract was held in Barwani where around 30-35 people took part. People who were operated started at this camp started developing infection. When the condition of their eyes deteriorated, they were referred to another ophthalmologist," Hindustan Times quoted Joint Health Director Dr Sharad Pandit as saying.

"It was revealed that they were on the brink of losing their eyesight," he added.

A team of five-six Health Department officials will be visiting Barwani to check whether "proper protocol" was followed in conducting the surgery.

"A five-to-six-member team is heading to Barwani. We'll examine if proper protocol was followed while conducting surgeries," Pandit told ANI.