'Retinal issues on rise among newborns'
Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital's Chief Medical Services, Dr Wajid Ali Khan, said the growing incidence of retinal abnormalities among premature infants in Pakistan calls for urgent attention.
Dr Khan added that the majority of premature babies who weigh less than 1.5 kilogrammes 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.
Talking to the media, he said 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.
Dr Khan said 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.
"Latest studies have shown that keeping the oxygen saturation at a lower level can reduce the rate of advanced retinopathy," he said, adding that one in ten babies worldwide is born early, with a chance of eyesight issues. Therefore, parents must include a vision screening in their list of baby check-ups between six and twelve months of age.
He said that every premature infant deserves the constant attention of an ophthalmologist because they are at increased risk for eye misalignment, amblyopia, and the need for glasses to develop normal vision. Dr Khan added that in Pakistan, about 900,000 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 Khan said that the Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital Rawalpindi has over 40 highly qualified eye surgeons, and the Pediatric Department has some of the most senior eye specialists. The hospital has expanded, handling over 500 OPD babies daily.
Dr Wajid Ali Khan said that they signed MoUs with the administrations of Fuji 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.
Through timely intervention, Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital has prevented 16,000 premature babies from developing irreparable damage to their eyes over the past 11 years.