Glaucoma is a dangerous eye ailment affecting more and more children worldwide and in Pakistan. This disease can cause vision problems and even blindness if not cured promptly, Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital said Wednesday. The situation has become alarming, unnerving the eye care professionals, as the many affected children and adults are not getting timely treatment, it said.
Suppose patients get the right help, like proper medicine or having an operation. In that case, they may not have problems with their eyesight for the rest of their lives, said Dr. Farah Akhtar, Head of the Glaucoma Department at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital.
Talking to media men, she said that our doctors are experts in treating glaucoma and other eye diseases, and we provide free treatment for 80 per cent of the patients.
It’s crucial for parents to routinely take their kids to doctors so that any issues may be identified early and treated effectively, as glaucoma is stealing the eyesight of many, she added.
The prevalence of glaucoma in children and adults is on the rise everywhere in the world, including in Pakistan. Still, the issue is not getting the attention it deserves, she said, adding that this disease is a silent killer, is usually detected when it’s late, and the surgery is not painful.
Dr Farah Akhtar said that treatment of glaucoma in children needs specialised medical and surgical care and frequent follow-ups; hence, parents of children suffering from childhood glaucoma must face psychological stress.
She informed that parents of children with childhood glaucoma must deal with emotional and financial hardship since treating glaucoma in children requires specialised medical and surgical care and frequent follow-ups.
She added that Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital provides 80% free medical and surgical treatment to patients by experienced and highly skilled specialists.
She said several pediatric glaucoma procedures are conducted daily, with an average of 25 daily operations. She added that due to the effective care provided to these patients, we have received referrals from all across the country and neighbouring nations.
Many glaucoma cases involve secondary causes such as trauma, prior eye surgery, related ocular malformations, or inappropriate steroid usage.
Moreover, careless prescription and over-the-counter eye drops with steroids have impaired the vision of many youngsters, which should be noticed, she demanded.
It is pertinent to mention that Al-Shifa Eye Hospitals in Rawalpindi, Sukkar, Kohat, and Muzaffarabad have performed 22,000 glaucoma surgeries until now, while the total number of glaucoma patients treated to date is more than one hundred thousand.