KARACHI: Principal Dow International Medical College (DIMC), Dr Uzma Bukhari, and leading ophthalmologists have said that around 485,000 people in Pakistan are blind, while nearly nine million suffer from visual impairment and require spectacles. Cataract remains a major cause of blindness; however, glaucoma is also a serious eye disease that can cause irreversible damage to vision. The condition can be controlled through timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
They said that globally, around 39 million people are blind and 285 million suffer from various forms of visual impairment, while estimates suggest that approximately 80 million people worldwide are living with glaucoma.
They expressed these views while addressing an awareness seminar held in connection with World Sight Day, which was preceded by an awareness walk.
The seminar was also addressed by Director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Endocrinology (NIDE), Dr Mussarat Riaz; Director, Dow University Hospital, Professor Zeba Ahmed; Professor Nisar Ahmed Sial; and other experts.
The awareness walk was led by Dr Uzma Bukhari. It started from the Trauma Centre and concluded at the National Institute of Diabetes and Endocrinology (NIDE).
Speaking at the seminar, experts said that glaucoma often shows no symptoms in its early stages. Patients may experience no pain or discomfort and may remain unaware of deteriorating vision until the disease has progressed significantly. Therefore, regular eye examinations are particularly important for people over the age of 40, patients with diabetes, and individuals with a family history of glaucoma.
Dr Mussarat Riaz said that special attention is given to eye examinations of patients with diabetes visiting the National Institute of Diabetes and Endocrinology (NIDE), as people with diabetes are at a higher risk of vision loss.
She said glaucoma, which is associated with increased pressure inside the eye and may also occur more commonly in people with diabetes, is among the major causes of irreversible vision loss.
Professor Nisar Ahmed Sial said that according to available data, cataract accounts for 49 per cent of cases of blindness, while the remaining 51 per cent are attributed to other causes, including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration.
He said that despite the high prevalence of diabetes in Pakistan, many patients do not undergo regular retinal examinations. Regular eye examinations are particularly essential for people above the age of 40 to detect potentially sight-threatening conditions at an early stage.