Karachi: Prevalence of glaucoma in children is increasing rapidly in Pakistan, requiring proper intervention, Al-Shifa Trust eye hospital said. Glaucoma in children is vision-threatening condition highly prevalent in our population. It said this might be due to high incidence of consanguinity or family marriages in Pakistan. Timely medication and surgical treatment can help control this disease with good visual outcome. They can save many children from lifelong visual disability or blindness, Prof. Dr Sumaira Altaf, Head of Paediatric department at Al-Shifa Trust said.

She said that Glaucoma in children had become growing cause of concern worldwide and in Pakistan, as millions are suffering from it. Treatment of Glaucoma in children needs specialised medical and surgical care and frequent follow-ups hence parents of children suffering from childhood Glaucoma have to face psychological and financial stress, she added.

She said that Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital provides free of cost medical and surgical treatment to 80 percent of patients who experienced and skilled Paediatric Ophthalmologists treat.

On average, 22 to 25 paediatric eye surgeries are performed daily, including various types of surgeries for Glaucoma, she informed. Successful treatment of these patients has resulted in many referrals to trust’s hospital nationwide.

Moreover, salespeople frequently prescribe harmful medicines at pharmacies to relatives, quacks and sometimes to general practitioners, who are ignorant that these medicines lead to complications and irreversible blindness.

Published in The Daily National Courier, April, 01 2023

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