Save 50,000 Pakistani children from blindness

CURRENT PROGRESS OF THE PROJECT

April , 2018 to June, 2018

The most recent WHO estimates on the global magnitude and causes of visual impairments confirm a major opportunity for change in the lives of millions of people: 80% of all causes of visual impairment are preventable or curable. WHO estimates that in 2010 there were 285 million people visually impaired, of which 39 million were blind. If just the two major causes of visual impairment were considered priorities and control measures were implemented consistently across the world, by providing refractive services and offering cataract surgery to the people in need, two thirds of the visually impaired people could recover good sight. This scenario appears to be fairly easy to realize, but for multiple reasons both the aforementioned eye diseases remain major items on the unfinished agenda of public eye care. Provision of effective and accessible eye care services is key for effectively controlling visual impairment including blindness. The preference is given to strengthening eye care services through their integration into the health system rather than through their provision in the vertical programme approach. Eye care services need to become an integral part of primary health care and health systems development. While it is critical, as an example, for preventing visual impairment from diabetes and premature birth, it is true for the prevention and management of almost all causes of avoidable visual impairment. WHO estimated that globally 285 million people were visually impaired, of whom 39 million were blind. According to the data for 2010, 80% of visual impairment including blindness is avoidable. Human lifestyle depends on your healthy vision, so when you’re eyesight becomes cloudy or blurry, it can be difficult to perform everyday tasks. You may have trouble driving and reading, and you may struggle through your usual routine. If you suspect you’re developing cataracts, talk to the professionals at Eye Care & Surgery. a refractive error, such as nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), astigmatism or presbyopia, refractive surgery is a method for correcting or improving your vision. This surgical procedure is used to adjust your eye's focusing ability by reshaping the cornea, or clear, round dome at the front of your eye. Worldwide, glaucoma is the second leading cause of irreversible blindness. In fact, as many as 6 million individuals are blind in both eyes from this disease. In the Pakistan alone, according to one estimate, more than millions people have glaucoma. As many as half of these individuals with glaucoma may not know that they have the disease. The reason they are unaware of the presence of the disease is that glaucoma initially causes no symptoms, and the subsequent loss of side vision (peripheral vision) is usually not recognized Glaucoma is often called "the sneak thief of sight." This is because, as already mentioned, in most cases, the intraocular pressure can build up and destroy sight without causing obvious symptoms. Thus, awareness and early detection of glaucoma are extremely important because this disease can usually be successfully treated when diagnosed early. While everyone is at risk for glaucoma, certain people are at a much higher risk and need to be checked more frequently by their eye doctor. Due to the raise of visual disabilities and a public health problem in Pakistan, Khyber Eye Foundation initiate a program to fight against avoidable blindness and thus lead to the establishment of School Eye Health Program to reach the children in need of refractive services at school level and train the institution teacher’s in basic eye health education to promote and transfer better eye health messages to the next generation. The main focus on age groups for screening are the children at the primary and secondary level of age 5 to 16 years in a specified area where school eye health screening was indicated. In addition, any other child with visible eye defects or disease; like squint,white pupil, nystagmus, abnormal head or face turn, red eyes, inability to copy from the black board, complaint of chronic headache or lack of concentration was screened and provided/referred to services.

Khyber eye Foundation is playing a very vital role in restoring the eye sight of school going children, conducting various seminar in remote areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to address various eye disease and its prevention especially for the children. The project of Khyber Eye Foundation during the period visited 69 schools and screened 2245 students, 608 teacher were trained to carry out vision of each student, and out off 2245 students 1709 students were diagnosed as refractive error and were issued spectacles free of cost worth of 2125$

Story of a girl student who had refractive error and how her life changed after she was issued spectacles by the project team.

Ayesha is a student of 7^th class and lives in a small village in charsada and studying in Government Girls high school rehmatullah khan . Her father is a bus driver and supporting 6 family members with in his meager sources of income and has no other source of income. The school eye health programme team visited GGHS Rehmatullah khan and did screening of students and screened out Aisha, when asked from her, how she used to do her study, she replied that she used to sit close to board and used to do her work, before that she never went anywhere for her eye checkup because her father couldn’t afford it Optometrist in a team did Aisha’s refraction , before refraction her vision was CF close in both eyes , after refraction her vision came to 6/24 in right eye with -22.00DS lenses and 6/36 in left eye with -22.00DS lenses Aisha was issued high index glasses. She is now happy with her new pair of glasses. Her lifestyle has improved with it.

Raised                        5023 $            

Remaining                   44477$