September 26, 2008	Friday	Ramazan 25, 1429

RAWALPINDI, Sept 25: As many as 75 per cent schoolchildren who were screened at the free eye-screening camp set up by Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital were found suffering from eye allergies.

More than 2,000 children had gone through eye check-ups during the free-school eye-screening camps conducted in August-September by Al-Shifa

Trust under its Community Outreach Programme in various schools in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, a press release stated on Thursday.

The free eye camps focused on serious eye (vision) problems such as refractive errors and Amblyopia (failure of one eye to develop vision) among schoolchildren. Besides allergies, doctors also detected abnormalities of muscle balance and refractive errors in children.

Giving details about the free eye camps, Dr Ashraf, an eye specialist at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, said out of every 100 children, 15 to 20 had eye allergies besides some cases of refractive errors, Amblyopia, allergic conjunctivitis or squints.

Majority of the eye (vision) problems may not be serious, but they occur in children till the age of 10 to 12 years, and if ignored it could become serious, Dr Ashraf said.

Pollen, clothes, wood, cotton, wool, detergents, unhealthy food, preservatives in foods, coloured food etc., almost anything could cause allergies of the eyes.

The green belts were also amongst the biggest reasons for allergies, the doctor said.

Khalid Mahmood Bhatti, Director Al-Shifa Trust Centre of Community Ophthalmology, said during the eye camps doctors also gave orientations to schoolchildren and teachers with a view to creating awareness of common eye diseases.

Al-Shifa Trust free eye school screening team consisted of eye specialists Dr. Ashraf, Dr Ali Haider and Dr Abid and supported camp supervisor Mohammed Aslam and six paramedical staffs.

The heads of a number of academic institutions have lauded the role of Al-Shifa Trust Hospital for conducting free eye camps in educational institutions.

In their messages to the hospital, they stated that by conducting free eye camps, Al-Shifa Trust was creating awareness among children of how to care about their eyes.