KARACHI: Around 485,000 people in Pakistan are blind, while nearly nine million suffer from visual impairment, according to Principal Dow International Medical College (DIMC), Dr. Uzma Bukhari, and other leading ophthalmologists. They highlighted cataract as a major cause of blindness and emphasized the severity of glaucoma, a condition that can lead to irreversible vision loss if not diagnosed and treated promptly.

According to Dow University of Health Sciences, the global context reveals that approximately 39 million people are blind and 285 million endure various forms of visual impairment, with an estimated 80 million individuals worldwide living with glaucoma. These insights were shared during an awareness seminar organized in observance of World Sight Day, which included a preceding awareness walk.

The seminar featured insights from several experts, including Dr. Mussarat Riaz, Director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Endocrinology (NIDE); Professor Zeba Ahmed, Director, Dow University Hospital; and Professor Nisar Ahmed Sial, among others. They stressed that glaucoma often presents no symptoms in its early stages, making regular eye examinations crucial, particularly for those over 40, diabetics, and individuals with a family history of the disease.

Dr. Mussarat Riaz noted the importance of eye examinations for diabetic patients at NIDE, given their heightened risk of vision loss. She pointed out that increased eye pressure linked with glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss, particularly in diabetics.

Professor Nisar Ahmed Sial provided data indicating that cataracts account for 49 percent of blindness cases, with the remaining attributed to other causes, including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration. He emphasized the need for regular retinal examinations, especially for those over 40, to identify and address sight-threatening conditions early.