"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.
