KARACHI: Updated facilities for eye ailments stressed
KARACHI, Feb 18: Eye care facilities in the public sector hospitals across the country are in need for updated diagnostic gadgets for timely and appropriate detection of glaucoma, the third major cause of blindness.
Experts speaking at the inaugural session KAROPHTH 2006, organized by the Ophthalmological Society of Pakistan, Karachi Chapter, here on Saturday said glaucoma causes seven per cent of all vision loss cases in the country.
Dr Idress Adhi, President, Pakistan Ophthalmological Society said the conference with the theme “glaucoma” holds immense significance for Pakistan as the condition causes irreversible blindness.
Cataract and corneal opacity induced blindness could be reversed, he said, mentioning that cataract contributes to 65 per cent of all blindness and corneal opacity to 13 per cent of all incidents of blindness in the country, Dr. Adhi said and added that these are but reversible through surgical intervention.
On the contrary, glaucoma, which occurs very silently - with no pain neither any evident vision loss - hence cannot be easily detected ultimately reaching a phase of sudden and absolute vision loss, Dr Adhi said, adding that eyesight due to the condition can also not be restored.
Dr. Hashwani referred to relevance of intra-ocular pressure in context of glaucoma, mentioning that IOP should normally remain less than 20 mm and as pressure increases, optic nerves start getting damaged.
Other speakers stressed that people, particularly above 40 must ensure regular eye check-up as two per cent of plus 40 population is estimated to be at risk of getting glaucoma-induced blindness and the diabetics are all the more vulnerable. Similarly, people with myopic vision also are comparatively more at risk.
Experts from Singapore, namely Dr Francis and Dr Hoh in their respective presentations explicitly discussed the updated modes of detecting glaucoma and prevent irreversible blindness.
The two-day moot was inaugurated by Justice (retd) Said uz Zaman Siddiqui. The chief guest in his key note address “ethical and legal aspects of medical practice in Pakistan” urged doctors to be careful in handling human lives.
Senior ophthalmologist and President, Pakistan Ophthalmological Society Dr Hashwani was presented shield of the year for his outstanding services.—APP
