KARACHI:
In Pakistan, the prevalence of visual impairment has risen at a considerable rate. Research revealed that the prevalence of total blindness was nearly three times higher in lower-income/poor areas compared to affluent areas. Also, approximately four million children in the country have a vision impairment.
One of the causes is loss of vision from cataracts, which is a problem in most developing countries. Other causes include opacity caused by infectious or transmissible diseases or malnutrition, trauma, accidents, sports, physical activities, etc. This form of impairment is directly related to the absence of health education, general economic uplift, and availability of primary eye care. Across the country, eye care is the least prioritised. Additionally, aphakias is a condition in which an individual is missing either one or both lenses of their eyes. The failure to correct refractive errors in this condition causes visual impairment. With an increase in non-institutional cataract surgery, the number of uncorrected or improperly corrected aphakias is likely to increase.
Unfortunately, in Pakistan, due to a lack of awareness and fewer ophthalmologists and optometrists, even curable cases have escalated. Most visual impairment is avoidable; therefore, the health department should raise awareness through tailored campaigns, particularly in rural and lower-income areas because they are the most affected. All general/public hospitals should have ophthalmologists, and everyone should be encouraged to get routine eye exams. If people are informed of any visual issues by their doctor, they must take them seriously. People should be encouraged to undertake healthy dietary habits by consuming a variety of vegetables, fruits, and healthy fats and limiting the intake of processed foods. Exercising regularly also helps maintain healthy blood pressure and prevent glaucoma.
Ali Ahmed
Skardu
Published in The Express Tribune, April 20th, 2022.
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