Hyderabad, November 15, 2019: L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) is organizing Children’s Eye Care Week from November 11 to 17. This year the theme is “Cataract in Children”. Of the 2.2 billion people living with vision impairment or blindness, over one billion cases could have been prevented or are yet to be addressed. These billion people are not getting the care they need according to the first World report on vision issued by the World Health Organization (WHO). Initial treatment of childhood cataract is important to enhance vision in life and to minimize amblyopia (lazy eye development). As a part of the Eye Care Week, LVPEI is organizing an ‘Awareness Walk’ on Sunday, November 17. The Walk will be flagged off at 7am from LVPEI Banjara Hills.
The growing level of cataract in children has become a matter of concern for the specialists. In India, studies have shown that cataract happens in one to four babies per 10,000 births. The normal lens in the eyes are transparent and allows light to go into the eye without any difficulty. In case of cataract this normal “crystalline” lens becomes opaque, either completely or partly.
“When a cataract is present since birth, it is called a congenital cataract. A cataract that is developed after 12 months of birth is called developmental cataract and it could be present in one or both the eyes. It can be hereditary or may occur sporadically or because of other underlying general diseases. In 27% of cases, it occurs because of some other defects in the eye, whereas in 22% of the cases it occurs because of other underlying health problems in children (systemic abnormalities). As per studies, in 41% of cases in children, cataract is diagnosed through routine screenings and hence detailed annual eye examination even for children is highly recommended. Whitish appearance in the eye (Leukocoria), squint and involuntary shaking of the eyeballs are the main symptoms of cataract in children,” said Dr Uppal Gandhi, Consultant, Child Sight Institute at L V Prasad Eye Institute.
“Cataract is one of the most important causes of avoidable visual disability in children. The developing visual system requires appropriate visual stimulus during formative years and early childhood. If affected with cataract (bilateral or unilateral) or weakening of eyes (amblyopia or lazy eyes) the child’s educational and psychosocial advancement may be affected,” said Dr Ramesh Kekunnaya, Head, Child Sight Institute at L V Prasad Eye Institute.
Data from our country indicate that 50% of children with cataract present for surgery late. The reasons for delayed recognition and treatment is mainly due to lack of knowledge amongst parents and limited accessibility to specialist centres. This walk is mainly to inform and involve the community by creating awareness about the eye disorder.
About L V Prasad Eye Institute
The L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) was established in 1987 at Hyderabad as a not-for-profit, non-government, public-spirited, comprehensive eye care institution. LVPEI is governed by two trusts: the Hyderabad Eye Institute and the Hyderabad Eye Research Foundation. The Institute is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Prevention of Blindness and a Global Resource Centre for VISION 2020: The Right to Sight initiative. LVPEI has ten active arms to its areas of operations: Clinical Services, Education, Research, Vision Rehabilitation, Rural and Community Eye Health, Eye Banking, Advocacy and Policy Planning, Capacity Building, Innovation and Product Development.
The LVPEI pyramidal model of eye care delivery currently includes a Centre of Excellence in Hyderabad, 3 tertiary centres in Bhubaneswar, Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada, 19 secondary and 181 primary care vision centres that cover the remotest rural areas in the four states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Karnataka.
For further information, please contact:
Dr Sreedevi Yadavalli
Head - Communications & Corporate Relations, L V Prasad Eye Institute
Tel: +91 040 23547254, +91 040 68102444; Mobile: +91 9849171895
Email: ysreedevi@lvpei.org
Website: www.lvpei.org