Al-Shifa saves 16,000 babies from blindness

Rawalpindi : The growing incidence of retinal abnormalities among premature infants in Pakistan calls for an urgent attention and every premature infant deserves the constant attention of an ophthalmologist because premature infants are at increased risk for eye misalignment, amblyopia, and the need for glasses to develop normal vision.

Through timely intervention, Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital has prevented sixteen thousand premature babies from developing irreparable damage to their eyes over the past eleven years. In Pakistan, about 900000 babies are born annually, out of which about 100,000 are prematurely born, and eighty per cent of them are prone to eye problems. Dr Wajid Ali Khan, the chief of medical services at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, stated this while talking to media men. He said that the majority of premature babies who weigh less than 1.5 kilograms at the time of birth have a high risk of developing the disorganised growth of retinal blood vessels, which can cause vision problems, including permanent blindness.

He added that babies born prematurely have many obstacles to overcome in their first weeks, including abnormal eye development, which can be resolved through screening and surgical procedures to help avoid serious eyesight problems. The retina’s blood vessels begin to develop three months after conception and complete their growth at normal birth. However, eye development can be disrupted if an infant is born prematurely, he explained.

He added that the Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Rawal­pindi has over 40 highly qualified eye surgeons, and the Paediatric Department has some of the most senior eye specialists. The hospital has expanded, handling over 500 babies at OPD daily. Dr. Wajid said that we had signed MoUs with the administrations of Fauji Foundation Hospital, Combined Military Hospital, and Benazir Bhutto Hospital, under which the trust will provide all the facilities, from transportation to screening and surgery, for premature babies born in these hospitals.