PESHAWAR, June 25: Most of the optical centres of the city are being run by unqualified staff, causing harm to the patients, doctors told Dawn.

According to ophthalmologists, the state-run hospitals do not have the required equipment and staff to cater to the needs of patients having problems with their eyesight. This has left the patients to visit privately-run optical centres located everywhere in the city.

A senior registrar at the eye unit of Hayatabad Medical Complex said that no one could deny the role of latest computerised equipment in the field of ophthalmology, but only skilled medical professional staff could take advantage of the available facilities.

According to him, the computer test only provides a base for the opticians to further test the eyesight of a patient. Qualified and trained opticians, being well-versed with the techniques, could prescribe the correct glasses to the patient, in line with the advice of the doctors.

He also suggested that the government should properly equip the public sector hospitals with modern equipment.