According to Professor Dr. Tayyab Afghani, the rate of eye cancer in children in Pakistan is increasing at an alarming rate, which is now almost double that of neighboring India. It was revealed that about 700 children are treated for this disease every year, which is a major public health challenge.
These alarming statistics were highlighted on Monday when Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital announced a significant milestone in its genetic research. The institution has completed genetic testing of 139 patients from 91 different families suffering from hereditary eye diseases.
This testing was conducted at Pakistan’s first genetic laboratory for eye diseases, established a year ago to help identify specific genes that cause vision loss.
According to geneticist Dr. Rutba Gul, the burden of genetic eye diseases in Pakistan is significantly higher than the global rate, with an estimated eight million people affected by such conditions. However, she said that official national statistics are not yet available. Dr. Gul emphasized that DNA testing confirms the underlying causes of these diseases, enabling more accurate diagnoses.
A primary reason for the high prevalence of hereditary diseases in the country is the common practice of marriage between close relatives, making these conditions more common than in Europe, the United States, and other Asian countries. The laboratory diagnoses numerous such diseases that can lead to severe vision impairment or blindness if not treated in a timely manner.
Dr. Gul added that once a genetic cause is confirmed, families are provided with comprehensive counseling to inform them of the potential risks to their children and the available treatment options.
President of Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Major General (R) Rehmat Khan, stated that despite the high costs associated with the process, all genetic testing is done completely free of charge.
He further announced that a strategic plan is underway to expand the genetic testing program and to establish a national database for hereditary diseases.