Experts call for steps against eye injuries: Ophthalmology congress
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Feb 22: Senior ophthalmologists and medical experts underscored the need on Sunday for precautionary steps against eye-loss cases in traffic, industrial and sports accidents.
Speaking at the various sessions of the two-day annual congress organized by the Karachi Ophthalmology Society, they observed that many people lost their eyes in accidents. Use of seat belts during driving should, therefore, be made compulsory.
Similarly, in the industries the workers should always wear protective eye-ware so that they could ward off dangers to their eyes. An expert pointed out that after the use of seat belts was made compulsory during driving in the United Kingdom, the number of eye-loss cases came down sharply there.
They urged the city government to discourage the holding of cricket matches in the night because many teenagers and children suffered injuries to the eyes during them. The need to provide more playgrounds for the youth was also underlined.
In the industries proper safety guidelines should be followed since goggles and helmets could help bring down the number of injuries to the eyes drastically.
Dr Sharif Hasan, the General-Secretary of the Ophthalmology Society of Pakistan, Karachi chapter, said addressing the eye-loss cases was important. The public should be educated in this regard.
The piercing of the eyes was a leading cause of ophthalmological trauma, explained Dr Hashmani. Many people lost their eyes to firecrackers and fireworks at marriage and other ceremonies.
During the Basant festivities too many people sustained injuries to their eyes. During the recent festivities too many such cases had been reported from Lahore and adjoining areas.
Due to fungus infection eyes could be lost, added Dr Hashmani. This kind of infection was difficult to treat that is why prevention should be stressed. This type of eye ailment was more common in the cities than in the rural areas.
Dr Hashmani suggested that motorcyclists should use helmets and goggles as frequently as possible. Washing the eyes with tap water could be beneficial during the initial stages of the infection but if the same progressed the treatment could be time-consuming.
Those who presented papers during the second day of the congress included Dr T. Akahushi, Prof William Sponsel, Prof Latif Chaudhary, Dr Azam Ali, Dr Wasim Jaffri, Prof M. Idrees Adhi, Dr Mehnaz Shah, Dr Tariq Saleem, Dr Akhtar Jamal Khan, Prof M. Saleh Memon and Dr Nazir Leghari.
Khalid Anwar, the former law minister, spoke at length on the issue of ethics. In Pakistan, he said, not much work was undertaken in the area of research and development.
A law needed to be passed against cloning, he opined. In Pakistan many people wanted to have boys more than girls. Cloning could, therefore, be misused should the people get a chance.
Prof Manzoor A. Mirza also spoke at the concluding reception. The two-day congress was attended by more than 100 experts from the country and abroad. About 70 experts presented their papers at the seven sessions of the moot.
