Karachi: Around 28 percent of the 30,000 schoolchildren screened and examined by the Pakistan Eye Bank Society over the past six months have been found to be suffering from eye disorders, a proportion far higher than global averages.
The screening was conducted under the School Eye Clinic Project, a joint initiative of the Pakistan Eye Bank Society and the Rotary Club of Heidelberg Schloss, Germany, and marks the completion of 50 percent of the project’s annual target to examine 60,000 students.
Preliminary analysis of the data shows that more than a quarter of the screened children had eye related problems, raising serious concerns about undetected vision issues that can directly affect learning and long term development. The complete results of the screening will be published later and used to guide further research and public health interventions.
To mark the achievement, a ceremony was held at the PEBS Hospital in Karachi on Monday which was attended by the Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Thomas Schultze, as chief guest. He praised the efforts of the Pakistan Eye Bank Society and its partners.
He said Pakistan and Germany shared strong relations not only in trade but also in the social sector, adding that projects such as school eye screening could make a lasting difference in children’s health and future prospects.
In an online message, Dr Tilman Krauch, President of the Rotary Club of Heidelberg Schloss, highlighted the close link between good health and education. He said proper eye care was essential for effective learning and commended teachers for their role in shaping students’ futures. He added that the Rotary Club aimed to support eye health services for 60,000 schoolchildren annually and planned to further expand the project.
Speaking on the occasion, Qazi Sajid Ali, President of the Pakistan Eye Bank Society, said the findings from the school eye clinic project were deeply concerning and underscored the urgent need for early medical screening. He said around 28 percent of the children examined had eye disorders and called on the government to develop a national policy for routine eye and medical screening of schoolchildren.
He also outlined the broader work of PEBS since its establishment in 1968, noting that nearly 16,000 corneal blind patients had regained sight through corneal transplants. He added that under recent initiatives, more than 350 free oral cancer surgeries had been performed, while around 90,000 patients benefited from PEBS services this year.
The ceremony was also attended by British Deputy High Commissioner Lance Domm, who appreciated the medical services provided at PEBS Hospital, and Katja Heusel, wife of the German Consul General, who praised the organisation’s work and expressed hope for the project’s continued success.
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