Al-Shifa Trust has successfully treated 140 children for eye cancer over the past three years, significantly improving survival chances for families in need. Many children’s cases are often diagnosed late due to a lack of awareness, transport issues, and financial barriers. Pediatric oncologist Dr. Tanzeela Farah emphasized the importance of early detection, advising parents to use a mobile phone torch to check for white reflections in their child’s eyes, which can indicate retinoblastoma.

Cousin marriages can lead to inherited eye diseases, contributing to the hidden crisis of childhood eye cancer in Pakistan. While survival rates for retinoblastoma exceed 99% in high-income countries, they can drop to nearly 50% in poorer nations due to late diagnosis.

To support low-income families, Al-Shifa Trust has partnered with institutions for free diagnostic tests and radiotherapy. Timely treatment can save both eyesight and lives, as eye cancer in children is treatable. Al-Shifa Trust operates seven hospitals across Pakistan and is constructing Asia’s largest eye hospital in Lahore.