Al-Shifa Saves 16,000 Premature Babies from Lifetime Blindness

APP

Rawalpindi: Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital has prevented sixteen thousand premature babies from developing irreversible eye damage over the past eleven years through timely intervention.

Dr. Wajid Ali Khan, Chief of Medical Services at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, highlighted the growing incidence of retinal abnormalities among premature infants in Pakistan.

He emphasized the need for urgent attention, particularly for babies weighing less than 1.5 kilograms at birth, who are at high risk of developing disorganized retinal blood vessel growth, potentially leading to permanent blindness.

Dr. Wajid noted that premature infants require constant ophthalmologist attention to prevent serious eyesight issues. The hospital, equipped with over 40 highly qualified eye surgeons, has handled approximately 500 OPD babies daily and has expanded its services in collaboration with various hospitals.

Al-Shifa is among the few hospitals worldwide with the latest facilities and skills to treat newborns with Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), having cured around 16,000 babies since March 2013.