Glaucoma In children Rapidly Increasing In Pakistan

News Desk

Rawalpindi: The prevalence of glaucoma, a vision-threatening condition in children, is becoming more common in Pakistan, which requires proper intervention.

Al-Shifa Trust Head of Paediatric Department Dr Sumaira Altaf said that the disease is highly prevalent in our population, likely due to the high incidence of consanguinity or family marriages in Pakistan. Many children can be saved from a lifetime of vision impairment or blindness by timely medication and surgical treatment that can help control this disease with a positive visual outcome, she added.

Treating childhood glaucoma requires specialised medical, surgical and follow-up care as well as regular visits, so the financial and emotional strain on parents of children with the condition is great. Head of Paediatric Department informed that 81 per cent of patients at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital receive free medical and surgical care from experienced and skilled Paediatric Ophthalmologists.

25 paediatric surgeries executed at Al-Shifa Trust

Dr Sumaira told that every day, 22 to 25 paediatric eye surgeries are carried out, including various glaucoma surgeries. Due to the successful care provided to these patients, the Trust’s hospital has received several referrals from all around the nation.

A significant portion of paediatric glaucoma cases involve secondary causes, such as trauma, previous eye surgery, associated eye anomalies or injudicious use of steroids.

She emphasised that reckless usage of over-the-counter steroid eye drops has impaired the vision of many unfortunate children. Moreover, pharmacy salespeople, family members, quacks, and even general practitioners frequently prescribe hazardous medications without knowing that doing so can result in problems like irreversible blindness.

An annual eye examination by an ophthalmologist is recommended to detect early signs of glaucoma or other ocular problems and intervene before it is too late: Dr Sumaira Altaf

Given the lack of information on paediatric glaucoma, pharmaceutical companies should also list the side effects of these medications on their packaging, the Ophthalmologist stated, adding that every child should have an ophthalmologist check their eyes at birth to rule out any anomalies. To identify early indications of glaucoma or other ocular issues and take action before it’s too late, a yearly eye check is recommended.

Dr Altaf said that Al-Shifa Department of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Rawalpindi has fully equipped OPD clinics, clinics for paediatric vision and refraction, as well as all the diagnostic tests required for children. The competent team of ophthalmologists caters to an OPD of 250 to 300 children. “Our Paediatric Ophthalmology Department is playing a key role in our fight against childhood blindness,” she told.