Doctors warn of growing epidemic of pre-maturity retinopathy
RAWALPINDI: Doctors have warned that Pakistan is facing a growing epidemic of retinopathy of pre-maturity (ROP), urging the government to introduce mandatory nationwide screening of premature babies to prevent avoidable childhood blindness. According to the Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Rawalpindi, improved neonatal survival rates are…
Doctors in Pakistan are sounding the alarm over a rising epidemic of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), urging the government to mandate nationwide screening for premature babies to prevent unnecessary blindness. The Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital in Rawalpindi explains that enhanced survival rates among newborns are expanding the pool of infants vulnerable to ROP, a sight-threatening eye condition predominantly impacting premature infants.
According to experts, approximately one million premature births occur annually in Pakistan, with around 300,000 of these infants likely to develop varying levels of ROP, and thousands necessitating intricate sight-restoring surgery. ROP emerges due to the premature development of blood vessels in the retina, typically completing this process by full-term birth.
However, premature delivery disrupts this sequence, potentially leading to aberrant blood vessel growth that harms the retina, which can result in irreversible blindness if not treated promptly.
Infants born weighing less than 1.5 kilograms face the greatest risk. Despite the increasing number of premature births, Pakistan lacks a nationwide screening program. Dr Amjad, a pediatric ophthalmologist and ROP specialist at Al-Shifa Trust, highlights that neighboring India has achieved a substantial reduction in ROP-related blindness by implementing mandatory eye examinations for premature infants before their discharge from neonatal intensive care units.
Dr Amjad emphasizes that effective treatment necessitates highly trained pediatric ophthalmologists, specialized anesthesia teams, and advanced surgical facilities. Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital is currently the sole facility in Pakistan capable of performing these delicate ROP surgeries. In the past year, the hospital performed around 560 surgeries at no cost; however, this only represents a minuscule fraction of the estimated number of babies that require treatment.
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