"Many
eye problems once thought to be untreatable are now curable, and
the latest surgical techniques are available in Pakistan to cure
problems like trauma, foreign bodies inside the eye and complications
of cataract," said Dr Azam Ali, Associate Professor, Consultant
Ophthalmologist and Head of Ophthalmology Section, Aga Khan University
Hospital (AKUH). Dr Azam Ali was speaking at 'Signs, Symptoms and
Care', a health awareness programme, titled 'Common Eye Problems
- Diagnosis and Modern Treatment', which was held at AKUH on November
12, 2005 in Karachi.
Dr Azam Ali advised that certain symptoms should
arouse suspicion and lead the patient to seek an eye specialist's
opinion. These include seeing black spots in the field of vision
or other opacities which look like insects or threads. "Diabetic
patients should get their eyes checked regularly as a lot of diabetic
problems can be prevented by timely diagnosis and laser treatment,"
he added.
Dr Mahnaz Naveed Shah, Assistant Professor and Consultant
Ophthalmologist, AKUH, spoke about glaucoma - a disease that can
cause irreversible damage to the nerve of the eye. She said that
glaucoma can be controlled by appropriate use of medications, laser
and other surgical procedures. It is far more common in individuals
above 40 years but can also occur in children and young adults.
"At AKUH, there are now multiple surgical procedures available
for refractive errors which help a person to achieve good quality
vision without being dependent on eyeglasses," she informed.
Speaking on eye problems amongst children, Dr Tanveer
Chaudhry, Assistant Professor and Consultant Ophthalmologist, AKUH,
said that, "Children mostly suffer from hereditary and congenital
eye problems. Squint is a common problem and if the treatment is
delayed, the squinting eye will have poor vision for the rest of
child's life."
Dr Rashid Baig, Senior Instructor and Consultant
Ophthalmologist, AKUH, emphasised that cataract is the most common
cause of preventable blindness worldwide in old age group. He said
that with Phacoemulsification, which has now become the standard
for cataract surgery, maturity of cataract is no longer the criterion
for operation.
As part of its outreach programme and societal commitment to
creating awareness of early diagnosis and timely treatment, AKU has organised
over 195 'Signs, Symptoms and Care' programmes in Karachi, Hyderabad and the
UAE, benefiting more than 38,000 people.
Similarly, AKUH's Patient
Welfare Programme reaches out to patients by providing assistance to those who
are unable to afford the medical cost of their treatment. In 2004, 71 per cent
of all patients treated at the AKUH were from low- to middle-income areas. Since
the inception of this welfare programme in 1986, over Rs. 1.22 billion has been
disbursed to more than 225,000 needy patients.
