KARACHI, May 31: Approximately 45 per cent of the Pakistanis are of 16 years or below and it is estimated that there are over 52,000 children whose eyesight is severely impaired.

Across the world there are estimated to be more than 1.5 million children who are blind. Eighty per cent of these children belong to Asia. Every year 500,000 children become blind. Sixty per cent of these children become blind between the age of one and two years if they are not treated in time.

Not long ago two-month-old Zakir Ali, belonging to a very poor family of Tando Adam, was among the children suffering from serious congenital problems. When Zakir was born he had white opacity in both eyes and was painfully sensitive to bright light.

Baby Zakir was taken to the LRBT Free Field Hospital in Tando Adam where he was diagnosed as having congenital cataract in both eyes. As general anaesthesia facility did not exist there, he was referred to the LRBT Free Base Eye Hospital, Karachi.

As all his investigations, carried out last week, were normal he was declared fit by Dr Muhammad Ishtiaq for cataract extraction under general anaesthesia. On May 27 a cataract extraction surgery was performed on both his eyes by Dr Abdul Hameed Siddiqui.

Examination on the first post-operative day established that the surgical operation was successful. Zakir was, therefore, discharged from the hospital with an advice to continue administering the prescribed medicines and to attend OPD for review after four days either at LRBT, Karachi, or LRBT Tando Adam.

Abdul Rauf, father of Zakir Ali, registered his immense satisfaction and expressed gratitude that proper care was provided to him free of charge. "Thanks to LRBT for saving my son from blindness," he remarked. - APP