KARACHI, Feb 20: Over three million people in Pakistan are suffering from Glaucoma -an eye infection with increase pressure in the eyeball that causes gradual loss of sight - and the number of patients is rapidly increasing due to unawareness, high blood pressure, diabetes and lack of proper treatment facilities.

These views were expressed by local and foreign eye specialists during a pre-congress workshop on "Growing incidence of Glaucoma", organized by the Ophthalmological Society of Pakistan held at Hashwani Eye Hospital here on Friday.

It may be mentioned here that the two-day international congress with the theme of "Ocular Trauma" will commence on Saturday. Senior eye specialist Prof Raja Mumtaz will inaugurate the congress, while former federal law minister Barrister Khalid Anwar would be the chief guest at the banquet reception on Saturday evening. Barrister Khalid Anwar will also speak on Ethics in Medical Profession.

Over 1,000 local and foreign eye specialists and surgeons will participate in the congress. About 69 experts will read out their research papers in seven sessions of the congress. The main topics to be discussed include Cataract, Vitreo-Retina, Glaucoma, and Cornea.

Dr Takayuki Akuhushi from Japan would be the guest speaker on the first day where as Dr P.S. Mahar of Isra University would present Dr M.H. Rizvi Memorial Lecture. Other foreign experts, including William E. Esponal from the USA, Dr Ossama Ibrahim from Egypt would also present their papers during the congress.

Meanwhile, the pre-congress workshop held here on Friday was addressed by OSP president Dr Manzoor A. Mirza, general secretary Dr M. Sharif, and a US eye physician Dr William E. Esponal.

Dr Mirza said that the eye disease was rapidly increasing among the masses while people approach eye specialists and physicians at the last stage due to lack of awareness.

"The disease is associated with high blood pressure and diabetes and the people, above 40 years of age, having both the conditions are at high risk of getting Glaucoma," he said. If physicians were consulted and approached on time the disease could be controlled and prevented, he added.

"Due to lack of awareness, patients don't take symptoms of Glaucoma seriously and pay more attention towards cure of high blood pressure and Glaucoma, which often results in loss of eye sight," he added.

Dr Sharif said that with the emergence of new technologies, Glaucoma was no more an incurable disease and in several countries, it was being treated effectively and patients return to normalcy after painless treatment.

"If detected in early stages, Glaucoma can be treated with eye ointments and by putting medicinal drops directly into eyes. But in the last stages, affected eye is operated and a valve is inserted into eyeball to secrete out the liquid," he said.

According to him, in some cases of Glaucoma, the contact of eye, especially cornea with brain is terminated as the nerves transmitting messages to the brain become ineffective.

In such condition, he said, radiation was used to treat the patient. On the occasion, Dr William made a live presentation of Glaucoma Surgery before hundreds of medical students and doctors. -PPI/APP