By Hina Kiyani
RAWALPINDI: Al-Shifa Trust has screened about 1,75,000 students in one year during its 550 free eye camps which were organized in the underserved areas of the country.
Dr. Hasan Raza, Deputy General Manager of Al-Shifa Center for Community Ophthalmology (ACCO), said 50% of the kids with eye issues had hazy vision, while many had congenital cataracts. 13000 cases were referred to Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, he said.
Talking to media here on Wednesday, he said that 50 per cent of the children were found with the issue of blurry vision, which is convergence insufficiency.
“It happens when the nerves controlling eye muscles don’t work correctly, one eye turns out when people with convergence insufficiency look at something up close”, he said while elaborating on the causes and effects of the disease.
The second-largest disease found during the free eye camps, he said, was myopia, as almost thirty per cent of the children had near-sightedness. He informed that Myopia is a common vision condition in which light rays that should be focused on nerve tissue at the back of the eye are focused in front of the retina instead.
Dr. Hasan said that the number of congenital cataracts was alarming. He underlined the need to spot cataracts in children quickly as an essential measure because early treatment can reduce the risk of long-term vision problems. He further informed that ACCO refers such children to Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Rawalpindi, providing them with transport and meals.
He highlighted that free eye camps were organized in the remote areas of districts Rawalpindi, Sukkur, Kohat, Muzaffarabad, and Chakwal.
He informed that the children were also found suffering from eye problems, such as blepharitis, hyperopia, squint, corneal opacity, traumatic cataracts, astigmatism, and conjunctivitis.
While highlighting the alarming pace of increasing eye-related problems, he underlined the need for collaborative efforts
“All public and private concerned quarters should boost their efforts to combat this menace”, he added.
Dr. Hasan informed that ACCO’s main objective is to organize school screening eye camps to help children facing eye diseases at an early age and educate them about preventive measures to keep their eyes healthy.
Responding to a question, he said that the trust began its outreach project in 1992. Its free eye camps are established all over Pakistan.
Dr. Hasan added that the camps were being increased to help people in far-flung areas, where most patients lack the resources to access quality healthcare.
