Most retinal problems are now curable: Dr Azam Ali

“Most vitreo-retinal problems which were once thought to be untreatable could be solved today. These include problems like retinal detachments, vitreous haemorrhages and diabetic retinopathy,” said Dr Azam Ali, Consultant Ophthalmologist and Head of Ophthalmology Section at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi (AKUH,K). He was discussing modern treatment options and surgical techniques available in Pakistan at AKUH's public health awareness programme ‘Signs, Symptoms and Care.'

“There are quite a few treatment options available for the treatment of Macular Degeneration, once thought to be untreatable. We have pioneered these treatments in Pakistan at Aga Khan University (AKU) and have treated thousands of patients suffering from this debilitating condition,” he said.

Opacities, black spots, or flashes of light in the field of vision, or a sudden decrease or loss of vision in one or both eyes could be symptoms of vitreo-retinal problem and should be taken seriously. He warned diabetic patients to be highly attentive to such warning signs and get their eyes tested regularly. “A good blood sugar control should not lead to a false sense of security,” he explained, adding that “a lot of diabetic problems could be prevented by timely laser treatment. Diabetics are also benefiting even in the late and blinding stages of the disease by modern therapy initiated at AKUH.” 

Dr Mahnaz Shah, Consultant Ophthalmologist mentioned that uncontrolled glaucoma causes irreversible damage to the nerve of the eye. “However, glaucoma once detected, is a disease which can be controlled by an appropriate use of medications, laser and other types of surgical procedures. Appropriate and timely treatment allows a patient to continue to enjoy good vision and avoid loss of eyesight,” she said.

“Squint may be a presenting symptom of something more serious, and therefore should not be ignored.” Dr Tanveer Chaudhry, Consultant Ophthalmologist, cautioned parents while discussing paediatric eye problems. Squint could be cured with proper treatment. But if left untreated and the child is past a certain age, it may permanently weaken the eye. “We recommend eye examination of all children before they start school,” he said.

Dr Rashid Baig, Consultant Ophthalmologist discussed “Common Eye Emergencies.” He stated that common causes of eye injuries include: road traffic accidents, chemical injuries (acid burns, alkali burns) bomb blast etc. He advised against allowing children to play with toy guns which can cause hyphaema (collection of blood inside the eye), traumatic iritis, vitreous haemorrhage and retinal detachment. Pellet injury is very common in children playing with these toys. Children should be discouraged to play with these toys and parents should not purchase such toys for their children.

Early diagnosis, early referral to a tertiary care centre and early treatment improves the visual outcome in ocular trauma cases. Taking preventive measures and creating public awareness regarding eye trauma can reduce the incidence of this important cause of visual disability, especially in young working age group and children.

As part of its outreach programme and societal commitment of creating awareness of early diagnosis and timely treatment, AKUH has organised over 230 ‘Signs, Symptoms and Care' programmes in Karachi, Hyderabad, Quetta and the UAE, benefiting more than 45,000 people. AKUH's Patient Welfare Programme provides assistance to those patients who are unable to afford the medical cost of their treatment. 73 per cent of all patients treated at AKUH are from low- to middle-income areas. Since the inception of this welfare programme in 1986, over PKR 1.6 billion has been disbursed to more than 300,000 needy patients.