Save 50,000 Pakistani children from blindness

CURRENT PROGRESS OF THE PROJECT

Vision impairment is a serious public health concern among older adults, affecting more than 2.9 million people in the country.The prevalence of blindness and vision impairment increases rapidly with age among all racial and ethnic groups, particularly among people older than 75 years.  National studies indicate that vision loss is associated with higher prevalence of chronic health conditions, death, falls and injuries, depression, and social isolation. When combined with chronic health conditions such as diabetes, vision loss is associated with overall poorer health among people aged 65 or older. Vision loss compromises people’s quality of life because, it reduces their capacity to read, drive a car, watch television, or keep personal accounts. Often, it isolates older people and keeps them from friends and family.  People living with disability make up 15 per cent of the global population, yet they often remain unintentionally excluded from social and political decision making. The strong correlation between poverty and disability perpetuates a cycle in which disability is both a cause and consequence of poverty. The World Bank estimates that people with a disability account for approximately one in five of the world’s poorest people. Disability contributes to and excavates poverty at both an individual and community level due to discrimination and entrenched institutional and social barriers. Extreme poverty gives rise to disability through various causes, including a lack of access to adequate nutrition, healthcare and access to clean water and sanitation. An individual with a disability is less likely to have access to rehabilitation, education, skills training and employment, all which function to lessen poverty. Early detection and treatment is essential in treating eye disorders in children.  Preventing vision problems and maintaining healthy eyes for all children from birth through adulthood must become a public health priority in the country. Even though there should be universal vision screening with immediate follow-up examinations for all preschool children in every community throughout the nation, Early identification of child vision problems decreases the risk of amblyopia, minimizes developmental delay and maximizes school performance.  Amblyopia is the most common cause of monocular visual impairment in children and young adults and is estimated to be the leading cause of vision loss in children,  Untreated eye disorders in children, such as amblyopia and strabismus, can result in delayed reading and poor overall school performance. Poor vision and eye health in children severely affects their ability to learn. One study found that visual factors are better predictors of academic success than race or socioeconomic status. Several studies highlight the importance of vision and the elimination of vision problems as essential to children’s performance in school. A major cause of vision impairments is eye injuries from sports or toys.

Khyber Eye Foundation has continued its effort to find refractive error in School going children, for their better future. The project team visited 49 schools and screened 1978 students, 509 teacher were trained to carry out vision of each student, and out off 1978 students 1544 students were diagnosed as refractive error and were issued spectacles free of cost worth of 1818$

Story of a two young sister who had refractive error and how her life changed after they were issued spectacles by the project team.

 Iqra and Ambareen are two sisters living in a small village of Sarki district Charsadda, studying in 6^th class at Govt. Girls middle school Sarki. They are 5 sisters and 2 brothers and belongs to very poor family, their father is a farmer with meager source of income.  School eye health program team visited to Govt. Girls middle school Sarki and received vision testing form from teacher in which there were names of Iqra and Ambareen , they were asked as to how you both were doing your work, they told that from their friends, they copy their work. They also told that they face a lot of difficulties during their daily activities like they can’t works on time, can’t play with their friends. They daily complain to their father about their vision but due to poorty he couldn’t take them to any doctor for their vision testing.  Optometrist in a team did refraction of iqra and ambareen. Before refraction iqra vision was 6/60 in both eyes while ambareen vision was 6/60 in right and 6/36 in left eye. After refraction their vision became 6/6 in both eyes. Both sisters received spectacles and become very happy and thankful to the team because now they can easily read and write.

Raised                                    $ 4,447 

Remaining                            $ 45,053