Rawalpindi, The growing population, coupled with a rise in the average age and an increase in diabetes cases, is leading to a spike in the number of cataract patients in the country, reported the Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital.
According to a news release by Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Brig. (R) Prof. Dr. Sabihuddin, who helms the Cataract Department at the Rawalpindi-based hospital, pointed out that the fast-paced growth in the population is paralleled by an upswing in diabetes prevalence, thereby escalating the incidence of cataracts. Dr. Sabihuddin emphasized that cataracts, being an age-related degenerative condition, are inevitable. Dispelling misconceptions, he stated that the notion of symptoms reappearing post-surgery is baseless.
Highlighting the pressing need for infrastructural enhancement, Dr. Sabihuddin called upon the government to back such initiatives and bolster eye departments across state-run hospitals, especially those set up at the district level. The present facilities, he noted, are ill-equipped to cater to the burgeoning patient load.
He further recommended that cataracts should only be operated upon once they have matured, causing a marked dip in vision, inhibiting day-to-day functions. However, he underlined the importance of seeking an ophthalmologist’s counsel prior to settling on cataract surgery.
Detailing the capabilities of Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Dr. Sabihuddin informed that the hospital boasts thirty air-conditioned operation theaters, a team comprising twenty-five expert doctors, six anesthetists, and cutting-edge diagnostic tools. The hospital undertakes between 90 and 100 surgeries daily. In addition, the hospital frequently sets up surgical camps in remote areas under its outreach program, conducting nearly 100 surgeries daily.
Stressing the hospital’s top-tier amenities and medical professionals, Dr. Sabihuddin stated that the ophthalmology and cataract surgery departments stand as the most extensive units, offering specialized care for a plethora of eye ailments. The department attends to a majority, 60%, of the patients primarily focusing on cataracts, while also addressing an array of lens-related disorders.
Dr. Sabihuddin reassured individuals mulling overseas treatment that Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital is equipped with the latest technology and skilled personnel, offering services at competitive rates. With Femto machines and laser specialists, the hospital provides efficient bladeless laser eye treatments like Femto LASIK. Furthermore, the hospital’s Advanced Refractive Laser Center offers state-of-the-art solutions for vision correction, ensuring a hassle-free and painless experience for those wishing to dispense with glasses.
Lastly, underscoring Al-Shifa Trust’s commitment to community service, it was highlighted that their eye hospitals in cities including Rawalpindi, Sukkar, Kohat, Muzaffarabad, and Chakwal provide 80 percent of surgeries without charge. The Cataract Department alone has successfully completed 1 million surgeries to date.