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Ocular Prosthesis 500 patients treated at Al-Shifa Annually (24th April 2009)
Al-Shifa Trust wins another award (February 16, 2009)
Eye Camp organised at Attock village (February 02, 2009)
Universal Service Fund (USF) Contributed For Al-Shifa Trust Light House
Al-Shifa Trust to set up eye hospital (November 14, 2007)
1,559 patients treated at free eye camp (June 21, 2007)
Al-Shifa Plans degree classes for eye paramedics (October 4,2007)
Al-Shifa Trust's Services Lauded (Dawn oct 03,2007)
Al-Shifa Makes breakthough in Surgery (Dawn oct 03,2007)
More than 50 Thousand children blind in Pakistan (August 20,2007)
0.8 m Suffer from cataract in Pakistan (July 30, 2007)
Anaesthetists Play major role behind the scene (June 21, 2007)
5,000 receive treatement at free eye camps ( June 03, 2007)
Eye Hospital to be built in Muzaffarabad (May 15, 2007)
Al-Shifa chief Seeks Gulf states support for turst (May 15, 2007)
Expatriates pledge support to expand Al-shifa network (May 15, 2007)
Al-Shifa Trust starts Commercial projects (The NEWS April 19,2007)
Govt pursuing agenda of welfare of people: Shujat
Eye Allergies in schoolchildren
Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital opens round the clock eye clinic in Islamabad.
500 patients treated at Al-Shifa annually Friday, April 24, 2009 By by Shahina Maqbool
An average of 10 to 12 patients per week visit Al-Shifa Trust Hospital’s Department of Contact Lens and Artificial Eye for ocular prosthesis or artificial eyes. A majority of these patients can be categorized as severe trauma cases that lose their eye or eyes on account of some negligence. The hospital provides artificial eyes to 550-650 patients per year.
Talking to ‘The News’ here on Thursday, the head of the Department of Contact Lens and Artificial Eye, Mohammed Rashid, informed that there has been a tremendous increase in number of patients visiting his department for ocular prosthesis, as also reflected in the department’s annual report. He attributed the increase to enhanced public awareness about the availability of this service, high quality of treatment and cost-effectiveness.
“We dispense ocular prosthesis at a cost ranging between Rs600-1,500 (depending on the specific category) as against Rs18,000-25,000 being charged by private practices where custom-made prosthesis is prepared. This does not include the polishing expenses, which range from Rs5,000-10,000” Rashid shared.
“What precisely do you mean by ocular prosthesis?” Rashid responded by informing that an ocular prosthesis or artificial eye replaces an absent natural eye following an enucleation, which means removal of the eye, leaving the eye muscles and remaining orbital contents intact. This type of ocular surgery is indicated for a number of different ocular tumors; in eyes that have suffered severe trauma; and in eyes that are blind and painful due to other diseases.
The fabrication process for a custom-made eye typically includes taking an impression of the eye socket, shaping a plastic shell, painting the iris and then fitting the ocular prostheses. This is done by an ocularist, who specializes in fabrication and fitting of ocular prostheses. In addition to creating the prosthetic eye, ocularists inform patients how to handle and care for the prosthesis. An ocular prosthetic does not provide vision.
Rashid informed that there are two types of ocular prosthesis — custom-made and ready-made. “Custom-made artificial eyes are recommended because the individual characteristics and physical requirements of the wearer are taken into consideration. They provide greater comfort, better eye movement and a superior natural looking result,” he stated.
Stock artificial eyes are ready-made; are mass-produced in a variety of standard sizes, shapes and iris colors, and are fitted through a trial and error method. Several different shapes and sizes may have to be tried into the socket to find one that appears to fit and look like the companion eye. “Common sense would dictate that without taking an impression of the socket, there is no assurance that the prefabricated shape selected is the proper shape for the individual socket,” Rashid added.
Gradual physical changes in the eye socket tissues and natural deterioration of the plastic and pigments necessitate a new prosthesis at intervals. “It is often the obligation of the ophthalmologist or ocularists to inform a patient about this fact,” Rashid said. The acrylic prosthesis should be replaced as needed to maintain a healthy socket and satisfactory cosmetic appearance.
“The lifetime of a plastic eye will vary with each patient and the chemistry of the socket. Five years is the average useful life; however, many patients are able to go for longer periods with no problem. If the artificial eye is three or more years old, it should be evaluated for proper size, alignment and colour,” Rashid advised.
The surface of the prosthesis also needs to be examined for roughness because its deterioration is gradual and a patient may not be aware of the possible serious consequences of these changes. If physical damage to the socket has occurred from irritation by a deteriorating prosthesis, Rashid said, it may become impossible to provide the wearer with the good cosmetic effect he once enjoyed. Therefore, patients are advised to have their prosthesis checked and socket examined - at least every six to 12 months.
Responding to a question about proper handling of artificial eyes, Rashid shared the following tips:
1. Never clean or soak your artificial eye in rubbing alcohol because it will crack the plastic and destroy the ocular prosthesis.
2. Remove the ocular prosthesis only as necessary. Too much handling can cause socket irritation and result in excessive secretions.
3. If you remove your ocular prosthesis, be sure to store it in water or soft contact lens saline solution. This will keep deposits from drying on the surface.
4. Your ocular prosthesis may have a colored spot or mark on it, and in most cases, the spot goes up, under the upper lid upon insertion. It has been placed there to help you with the ‘correct alignment. If doubt, consult your ocularist.
5. To clean the prosthesis, use an antibacterial soap product. Wash the eye between your fingertips. A cotton ball is also helpful to wipe away softened deposits from the surface.
6. If you wish to or need to rinse out the socket, use sterile saline with an eye cup or bulb syringe. We recommend saline that is preserved with Ascorbic Acid, like Bausch and Lomb Sensitive Eyes brand. It is usually more comfortable to warm the solution in a microware for 15 seconds.
Rashid said, the routine removal of the prosthesis at night is no longer recommended unless there are special problems such as excessive discharge or discomfort. The accepted current advice is that if it isn’t bothering you, leave it alone.
The frequency of cleaning the prosthesis is an area of disagreement between many ocularists and ophthalmologists. Some recommend their patients remove the prosthesis at regular intervals, perhaps on a daily basis, for cleaning. Others feel that handling the prosthesis only when necessary will minimize infection in the socket, resulting in less discharge and buildup of eye secretions.
Al-Shifa Trust wins another award (February 16, 2009)
Al-Shifa Trust gets the third gold medal the third in a row. Ophthalmologic Society of Pakistan (OSP) in its annual meeting awarded PICO Gold Medal to Prof. Tayyab Afghani, a senior eye specialist and Director Publications and projects department of Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospitals for outstanding performance in Community Eye Health.
While receiving the award, Prof. Dr. Tayyab expressed his gratitude to the ophthalmic society and said that the award is an acknowledgement of the continued efforts in prevention and control of blindness of Al-Shifa Trust by the eye professionals of Pakistan.
Earlier, Al-Shifa Trust was also awarded the Novel Christy Gold Medal by Ophthalmologic Society of Pakistan in 2007.
The Ophthalmic Society of Pakistan the premier eye professional association in the country was founded 50 years ago in 1957 with the mission to improve the professional skills of its members, to encourage its members to conduct meaningful research and provide quality eye care to the public.
Apart from the OSP award, Al-Shifa Trust was awarded the AGFUND award by Arab Gulf Program of Funding for United Nations a non profit regional development institution, last year in 2008, in the field of Visual Impairment. Al-Shifa Trust has also got the honor of being the World Health organization WHO collaboration center for the prevention eye disease in the east Mediterranean region.
While talking to the sources President Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital Lt. Gen (Retd) Jahan Dad Khan said “The award is an acknowledgement of there services of Al-Shifa Trust and its eye professionals for their substantial progress and great contribution in the field of eye care delivery.
Eye Camp organised at Attock village (February 02, 2009)
RAWALPINDI, Feb 1: The AlShifa Trust Eye Hospital Rawalpindi on Sunday organised a free eye camp at village Dhulli of Attock district under its community outreach programme, where over 800 patients were provided treatment.
At the camp arranged with the support of Malik Rabbani, chairman Al-Shifa Trust Glasgow UK chapter, a total of 850 patients were screened and medicines, lenses and glasses were provided to poor patients free of cost, said a press release issued by the trust.
According to Dr Tahir, head of the Al-Shifa Trust Center for community ophthalmology (ACCO) department, fifty patients were found with serious eye complications and referred to the trust hospital for surgery. Out of these, 20 patients have been brought to the hospital for surgery, while the remaining patients are expected to be shifted soon, he said.
Apart from the camp, a team of Al-Shifa eye specialists exam ined eye patients at a local school and treated 350 persons. The response of the villagers was overwhelming who showed great interest and appreciated the step taken by the trust, said the team leader.
It was the first time that such facility was extended to the people of the remote area of Attock district. According to president of the trust Gen (retired) Jahandad Khan, the free eye camps were aimed at providing the best eye-care facilities to the needy and poor people at their doorstep.
He further said the team of AlShifa Trust had almost achieved its objective by creating awareness among the local people and government authorities regarding complications of eye diseases.
The patients’ turnout was higher then expected, and a large number of people, both old and young, visited the camp and those in need of eye care were brought to the camp from their doorsteps, the team leader said.
Universal Service Fund (USF) Contributed For Al-Shifa Trust Light House
Al-Shifa Trust has initiated a new project in its eye hospital to treat people with low vision or complete blindness, enabling them to see and even read with the help of modern electronic devices.
The facility entitled “Light House” is first of its kind in the country for almost five million people, who are either completely blind or suffering from low vision, president of our Trust said. He further added that it will help such people to enjoy safe, independent and productive life. According to him, the only way for ward for the people suffering from incurable vision-related problems was to maximize their residual vision potential by special devices and counseling at different level.
“The Light House in Rawalpindi will provide them all relevant help making them read or watch whatever they want,” he maintained.
Absence of needed infrastructure, lack of trained and skillful staff and paucity of funds for such type of services in Pakistan have been the stumbling block in the way of facilitating the people with low vision and Al-Shifa despite its limited resources was the first facility in Pakistan to establish a low vision centre back in 1994 and later it established over a dozen such centres all over the country by providing trained professionals, the trust president said.
“Now Al-Shifa has introduced the concept of Light House to cater to all the needs of visually-impaired persons under one roof; to provide latest facilities for reading, writing, telecommunication; to provide facilities for different age groups; and to cater to occupational needs of people with low vision or no vision.
“Under the project latest computerized facilities for reading, writing, computing, electronic mailing and occupational counseling are being set up,” Mr President said.
The facility will include three sections for people of different age groups. Firstly, there is a senior corner for elderly low-vision patients and then there is a junior corner for young patients where they will be trained how to use electronic devices for near vision. Thirdly, there is a rehabilitation corner for working class and housewives, training them how to use the facility to carry out activities of daily living.
The Light House will also have facilities of in-house need assessments and low vision examination. It will introduce people to safe and new ways to cook and to take care of home by providing special tools like custom-made utensils, magnifying lamps, etc. Besides desktop electronic video magnifiers will be available to help visually-impaired individuals read the newspaper, manage their finances, and lead productive lives through mainstream employment and hobbies.
The junior corner will include a centre for parents to help them understand the problems of their children with low vision. Special electronic and TV magnifiers along with simulators are available for pursuing studies.
Special computer software will be available which will magnify every thing on computer screen and help the youngsters to do their learning through the technology. A play and entertainment corner with special gadgets for children with low vision will also be available.
The rehabilitation centre will be having a wide range of educational, social, recreational and job training facilities for youngsters with low vision, so that they could join the practical world with confidence.
President Jahan Dad Khan said the project would be complete in one year at a cost of Rs100 million, adding that Rs25 million had already been provided by Universal Service Fund (USF).
Al-Shifa Trust to set up eye hospital
Rawalpindi (Online)- An MoU (Memorandum of under standing) was signed between the secretary Health AJK Maj. Gen. Jahangir Anwar Khan and founder and President Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospitals Lt. Gen (Retrd.) Jahan Dad Khan, here on tuesday.
According to the agreement the AJK Government has granted free prime land of 50 canals to the Al-Shifa Trust for the consutruction of a 100 beds stat of the art Eye Hospital at AJK.
The (MoU) was signed at a function held at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital Rawalpindi on Tuesday. Representatives of AJK govt. and members of the Al-Shifa Trust were present at the MoU signing ceremony.
Secretary Health AJK while giving details about the land said that the prime land is located at Muzaffarabad. President Al-Shifa Trust, Lt. Gen. (Retrd.) Jahan Dad Khan said that an agreement has been signed with FWO and the construction work will be started by Febraurary 2008 and will be completed in two years time.
"This hospital will cost about Rs 250 million and will be on the sam standard as Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital Rawalpindi, which is the mother Hospital" said Mr. Jahan Dad. He further said that the hospital would provide a comprehensive eye care services to the people of AJK.
Talking to the media persons, Gen Jahan Dad said that in addition to AJK, the hospital will also provide its services to the Northern Areas as well. He said that currently Al-Shifa Trust under its community outreach program is conducting free eye camps in the far flung areas of AJK screening treating thousands of patients at the camps. He said that many patients with complicated cases are referred to Al-Shifa Trust eye Hospital Rawalpindi for surgeries. "With the establishment of this stat of the art eye hospital in Muzaffarabad people will now be provided quality eye care services at their door step. Said Gen Jahan Dad.
Gen Jahan Dad said that a very high level doctors and paramedical staff for the AJK hospital are undergoing comprehensive training at Al-Shifa Trust Rawalpindi and as soon as the construction work is completed, the hosital will start its operation.
The Hospitals, designed by some renowned architectures, will comprised initially on 100 beds said Executive Director Al-Shifa Trust Eye hospital Brig (Retrd) Rizwanullah Asghar. He said that apart from providing quality eye care services, the hospital will also provide employement opportunities to the local masses. "At least 500 people would be provided jobs at the hospital said Brig. Rizwan.
Al-Shifa Trust with its three state of the art eye hospitals at Rawalpindi, Sukkur and Kohat, are treating thousands of patients daily. "75 percent of the patients treated at Al-Shifa trust eye Hospitals are free of cost and the rest are treated at a very subsidized rate" said the Executive Director.
1,559 patients treated at free eye camp (Dawn oct 25,2007)
RAWALPINDI, oct 24: Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital Rawalpindi treated more than 1,559 eye patients during a three days free eye camp held under its community outreach programme in Azad Kashmir.
The free eye camp, which concluded on Tuesday, was organized at Arja of district Bagh and Pachiot and Hajeera of District Rawlakot.
A team of specialist doctors comprising Dr. Kashifa and Dr. Rizwan along with head of the team Lt. Col (Retd) Khalid Mahmood Bhatti, health educationist Aslam Shah, and camp supervisor Mohammad Aslam and 10 paramedics treated the patients.
A total number of 1,559 patiens were screened at the eye camp while medicines, lenses and glasses were provided to the needy free of cost.
Out of these patients, 250 were serious cases and were referred to Al-shifa Trust Eye Hospital Rawalpindi.
These patients have been brought to the hospital to undergo suergeries, said Lt Col (retd) Khalid Mahmood Bhatti, who is the Director of the Al-Shifa Trust Centre for Community Ophthalmology (ACCO) Department.
The tunrnout was much higher then expected, camp supervisor Mr. Aslam, told Dawn. a large number of Patients, both old and young, visited the camp, he aded.
According Dr. Rizwan, most of the people screened were found suffering form cataract and glaucoma. Besides, there were also some patients who were complaining of refractive power, watering of the eyes, squint and some were also found with night blindess.
Intermarriages and infections dure to lack of eye care awareness were the major causes for vision disorder among children, said Dr. Kashif, one of the specialists at the free eye camp, while talking to media persons at the concludeding cermony He said diabetes in parents also caused eye defects in children. He said most of the people screened had cataract, which could be fully cured through surgery.
According to Lt. Col (retd) Khalid Mahmood Bhatti, the camp was aimed at providing best eye care facilities to the needy people at their doorstep. He further said that the team of Al-shifa Trust had almost achieved its trarget be creating awareness among the locals and goverment authorites to realise the complications regarding eye diseases.
Al-Shifa plans degree classes for eye paramedics (Dawn oct 04,2007
RAWALPINDI, oct 4: President Al-shifa Trust Gen (retired) Jahandad Khan on Thursday saild the hospital would initiate degree programme for eye nurses and ophthalmic teachnologists in the near future to give them better and upgraded education and training.
According to a press release, Mr. Khan said with the help of Univerisity of Health Sciences, Lahore, Als-Shifa had started Bsc in Optometry and Orthoptics for the assisting staff.
Al-Shifa President siad they had also planned to start masters in optomety in the next five years. Besides this the Trust has also devised different programmes to make the paramedic faculty as assistant professors in next five years. The president said Al-Shifa had also been runningpost-graducate training programmes for dctors as well as for paramedics for the last 15 years. Al-Shifa is the only institution where eye equiptment technicians are given formal training. The Trust plans to further expand the training of refractionists and a short-term training programme for those opticians who need refinement in their skills on scientific grounds.
Over 125 doctors have successfully completed their post graducation, while more than 400 paramedicas haven graducated in ophthalmic technolgoies like optometry, orthoptist and nursing, the Trust, President said.
Paklistan is in acute shortage of trained-eye paramedics. For one eye specialist there should be 4 trained eye paramedicas meaning that for 2000 ophthalmologists in the country there shold be 8,000 trained eye paramedics. There are hardly one thousand trained paramedics in the field of eye cars, he added.
Besides this, Al-Shifa Trust is running 12-18 months post- fellowship sub-specialty training programmes in the field of paediatric ophthalmology, retina, orbit and oculoplastis, glaucome and cornea.
"We are expanding this programme as well, by offering short-term mini fellowships of 3-6 months in subspecialities.These are very costly programmes and no insitituion in the world can afford to run these free of cost, he maintained.
Al-Shifa Trust's Services Lauded (Dawn oct 03,2007)
RAWALPINDI, oct 3: Islamabad Chamber of Cmmerce and Industry (ICCI) President Nasir Khan has appreciated the efforts of the Al-Shifa Trust towards the welfare of ophthalmic patients.
During a visit to the Al--Shifa Trust towards the welfare of ophthalmic patients.
During a visit to the Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital in Rawalpindi on Wednesday, the ICCI president said the trust was providing the patients with best possible eye care services and doing noble work.
Al-Shifa Trust Chairman Jahandad Khan said: "We want to facilitate the general public and for this reasone we have decided to upgrade the Al-Shifa Trust Eye Clinic at Islamabad.
Mr. Khan said Al-Shifa Trust eye hospital was equipped with state of the art eye care equipment with a foreign qualified eye specialist.
He told the ICCI president that 75 percent of patients visiting Al-Shifa Trust eye hospitals availed the services free of charge, 20 percent paid discount rates and only five percent paid the full cost of treatment.
Mr. Khan added that their recurrent cost was around Rs. 120 million a year. Forty percent of it comes from donations, 35 percent is generated from hospital charges and the rest is covered through Zakat and othere grants.
According to him, all the Al-Shifa Trust eye hospitals had the facilities for advances treatment, postrgraducate training and research.
Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Islamabad office chairman Munwar Moughal, former ICCI presidents Mian Akram-Farid and Khalid JAved, and vice-president Mohammad Hussian and former CBR Chairman Mian Iqbal Farid also accompained the ICCI presidnet during the visit to the hospital.
Al-Shifa Trust makes breakthrough in Surgery
Dodctors of Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital have successfully operated patients whose vision was damaged in acid-related injuries.
Surgeons have treated such cases by using a membrane derived from human placenta meant for nourishing the unborn child.
Dr. Wajid Ali, Chief Consultant, who operated upon a twenty year-old girl from Kashmir who had lost her vision due to lime stone injury, said that now she was able to see again as her sight has been restotred through membrane transplantation.
"Devitalized eye tissures are successfully being treated at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital. Ocular cells die as a result of injureis with acid and lime due to which corneal transplantation becomes impossible. It is essential to revitalize this cell before transplant surgery."
The chief consultant said that the hospital test this membrane in its laboratories. By the grace of Allah and hard work of Cornea Department of the hospital, these experiments proved fruitful and so far around around 200 successful surgeries have been performed.
Professor Wajid said that after Europe and America, the procesdures are being performed in Pakistan for the first time at the Al-shifa Trust Eye Hospital. There are around 50,000 patients in the country right now who could benefit from this facility.
Giving details of the oepration of Kashmiri girls, Jatti Begum, daughter of Mohammad Riaz of District Sudhanoti, Azad Kashmir, he said that the girl had lost here eyesight some eight years ago due to limstone injury rendering her totall bline.
Doctors referred her to India for treatment and the local philanthropists funded her visit to India byt Indian doctors declared her condition untreatable. Professor Wajid Ali Khan said that her eyes were badly injured and the doctors abroad refures to operate her. After successful surgery at the Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital here eyes are recovering and in a few months she would regain her full sight.
More than 50 thousand children blind in Pakistan
RAWALPINDI: More than fify (50) thaousnad children in Pakistan are facing severe eye complications, subsequently leading to blindness.
According to a survey repost conducted by Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital Rawalpindi more than 50 thousand children are facing blindness in Pakistan. 15 percent of the blindess is due cataract, 12 % glaucoma and the rest due to other eye complications like birht defects, infections and vitamin "A" deficiency reveals the report.
Talking with the media persons about the state of eye complications in children, senior eye specialist Al-shifa Trust Eye Hospital Rawalpindi, Dr. Tayyab Afghani said that due to lake of awareness and proper eye care facilities in the rural area, blind ness is becoming very commone among the people living in the rural area especially chidren.
He further said that 40 thousand children need eye glassess but more than fifty percent are not waring eye which glasses as a result risks in permanent visions deficiencies and ultimately affect the academic performance and other daily activities of the child.
He said that Trauma is also one of the major factors of blindness in children . There are many cases where children damage their eyes as a result of domestic through some accidents. He said that the children must be closely watched by their parents while playing with toys, Spring actions toys, pistols, sharp point articles like needle,scissor, knife,pencils gemoetry box instruments, all these have been implicated in injury eye and subsequent loss of vision, said Dr. Tayyab.
Giving details about the children eye facilities at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital he said Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital , is state of the art eye hospital in the country, where more than 75 percent of the patients are given free eye treatment. With its operations at Rawalpindi, Sukkur and Kohat, the hospital is treating thousands of eye patients on daily basis, said Dr. Tayyab. He said 75 percent of the patiens treated free of cost at Al-Shifa Trust.
In the area of pediatric ophthalmology of children related eye diseases, Al-Shifa Trust have a separated fully equipped department for children known as The Pediatric Ophthalmology Department. The department is equipped with foreign qualified eye specialists and with state of the art technology and every year on average 2000 children are operated. On daily basis around 150 to 200 children are given eye treatment providing them spectacles and medicine, said Dr. Tayyab.
0.8 Suffur from Cataract in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD July 29: There are 4.5 million visually impaired people in Pakistan with about 800,000 of them suffering from cataract, according to a recent survey report.
This was revealed by Dr. Tayyab Afghani, a senior eye surgeon at Al-shifa Trust eye Hospital, Rawalpindi, while talking to mediapersons in the hospital on Saturday. He said cataract was clouding of the eye'snaturally clear lens.
"Your eye becomes like a window that is frosted or yellowed. If your vision is blurry, visit your ophthalmologist (eye specialist) for an examination. This will also rule out any other causes for blurred vision, " he added.
Cataract is a common cause of vision loss, expecially in old age, but it is curable. About the symptomes, Dr. Afghani said the common symptoms of cataract were pain less blurring of vision, light sensitivity, poor night vision, double vision in one-eye needing a brighther light ot read, colours looking faded or yellow.
Cloudiness and pattern of a cataract can vary. If clodiness is to hte side of your field of vision, you may not be aware that you have a cataract. Cataracts can be congenital or can result from traumatic injuries local or systemic disease, or the aging process (senile cataracts).
Of the several surgical procedures and enses used in treatment, the most exciting advance is extra capsular cataract extraction folloed by insertion of a posteriror chamber intracocular lens.
The surgeon said: " Currently, in Pakistan we need to do half a million surgeries per year to tacke this menace but at present about 400,00 operation are being carried out, which means every year a backlog of 100,000 million is added.
This backlog is due to many reasons such as due to illiteracy, lack of proper health facilities and old customes or myths. The rural popluation particularly is very much exposed to such eye complications.
He said "In some way i would hold the health professionals responsible for such misconceptions as they are not delivering and providing information to the general public regarding the lates treatment methodologies adopted for the realted complications.He said there were different misconceptions regarding the treatment of cataract which was one of the most common eye disease.
The first and most commone misconecption about cataract is that it can be removed without surgery through medicine and eye drops. This is absolutely wrong. At present the only treatement for this disease is surgery.
The second misconception is that cataract can be treated through laser. So far, cataract cannot be removed by laser. The third common misconception is that artificial lenses or IOL can break, become dirty or cause irritation. These conceptions are totally absured.
Dr. Afghani said that there were many other misconceptions about cataract.
He asserted that cataract did not spread from one eye to the other, nor was it a causes of irreversible blindness. How quickly the cataract develops varies among individuals and may even be different between the two eyes. He said most agerelated cataracts progress gradually over a period of years. Other cataracts, expecially in younger people and people with diabetes, may progress rapidly over a short time.
According to the eye surgeon, it is not possible to predict exactly how fast cataracts will develop in any given person. About the treatment facilities at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospitals, he said it was equipped with latest state of the art equipment and had foreign qualified eye specialists.
He said currently about 15,000 cataract patients were operated in a years. With its three state of the art eye hospitals in Rawalpindi, Sukkur and Kohat., Al-Shifa Trust under its Community Health Education Programme has succeeded to some extent in removing the misconceptions and fears regarding the treatment of cataract.
While giving the details, he said under this programme, eye camps were conducted in the far-flung areas where people were educated by holding presentations and by distributing brochures and pamphlets.
In the end, Dr. Tayyab Afghani said that the trust was now going to establish two more hospitals in Quetta and Muzzafarabad.
Govt pursuing agenda of welfare of people: Shujat
ISLAMABAD (APP)- Pakistan Muslim League president Chaudhry Shujat Hussain Friday said that the government was pursuing an agenda of welfare of people to fully facilitate them in every sphere of life.
He was addressing a media workshop and photo exhibition organised by Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospitals here.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Muhammad Ali Durrani, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Tariq Azeem Khan, PML secretary general Mushahid Hussain Syed, Minister for Tourism Nilofar Bakhtiar and president of Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospitals Lt-Gen. (Retd) Jahan Dad Khan also addressed the workshop.
Shujaat Hussain said there is a dire need to create awareness among the people about the welfare services rendered by private-sector institutions, adding Al-Shifa Trust is one of the leading institutions that are serving the under served segment of the society.
The PML chief asked Pakistan Television Corporation to present one programme each in a month to highlight the welfare activities being done by Al- Shifa Trust and other private-sector institutions.
He said the Ministry of Information will also hold media workshops on quarterly basis to encourage people to come forward and extend their support for the cause of welfare of masses.
Referring to the services rendered by Lt-Gen(Retd) Jahan Dad Khan, he said “he is a man of inborn qualities who left his footprints wherever he served.”
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Muhammad Ali Durrani said media persons should further promote welfare activities being done both in public and private sectors to give inspiration to the general public.
He said: “We have true leadership in the country that wants to see the people becoming prosperous and well- motivated for welfare activities.”
The Minister said determination and dedication always make waves and “we need these in every sphere of life.”
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Tariq Azeem Khan said serving humanity is a noble mission that requires devotion on the part of people from all walks of life.
He said Jahan Dad Khan took a commendable initiative of setting up Al-Shifa Trust that also encouraged other segments to work for the betterment of humanity. PML secretary general Mushahid Hussain Syed, who was also one of the organisers of the Workshop, said the Trust is a non-profit and non-political organisation that is committed to providing eye care and treatment mainly to the under privileged and poor.
Mushahid said the Trust is able to meet only 30 to 40 per cent of its expenses from its own resources while the remaining expenses are met through donations.
He said: “The philanthropists should extend their full support to help the Trust expand its operational activities across the country.”
Minister for Tourism Nilofar Bakhtiar said Jahan Dad Khan was a role model for those who want to utilise their potential to serve humanity.
She said the Ministry of Tourism will introduce a health tourism programme in coordination with the Trust and modalities are being finalised in this respect.
Lt. Gen. (Retd) Jahan Dad Khan said the Trust has set up three eye hospitals in Rawalpindi, Sukkur and Kohat and arrangements are being made to set up two more hospitals in Quetta and Muzaffarabad.
He said the Trust has evolved a 20-year plan to expand its operations besides further improving the quality of care and treatment in the Al-Shifa hospitals.
Jahan Dad said more training programmes have also been started to improve professional competence of doctors and paramedics.
Dr. Para Raja Segaram, a Sri Lankan eye surgeon, said he has been associated with the Trust since its early days and he is greatly inspired by the commitment and dedication of its members.
Prof. Dr. James E. Standefer from the University of Mennesta, USA, said consistent and motivated efforts are needed to protect people from growing eye ailments across the world. Later, the distinguished guests took a round of the photo gallery.
Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital opens round the clock eye clinic in Islamabad.
RAWALPINDI: To facilitate the people of federal capital territory Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital has opened its full-fledged eye clinic in Islamabad.
Meanwhile President of the Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital said that our motto is to provide the patients with our best possible eye care services. He said to achieve this objective al-Shifa is in the process to upgrade the existing Al-Shifa hospital into the centers of excellence with state of the art modern eye care facilities.
He further said that based on our experience of the past and realization of the changing scenarios and trends of the fast developing present world, Al Shifa Trust Constantly reviews, refines and reshapes its future. For this a strategic plan has been made and based on this strategic plan Al-Shifa Trust is in the process to establish two more state of the art eye hospitals in the country-one in Quetta and another in Muzaffarabad.
“We want to facilitate the general public and provide the best possible eye care services to the patients at their door step and for this reason we have decided to upgrade the Al-Shifa Trust Eye clinic at Islamabad” said the Executive Director Al-Shifa Trust Brig (R) Rizwanullah Asghar. He further said that the Al-Shifa Trust Eye hospital clinic would be equipped with state of the art eye care equipments and with a foreign qualified eye specialist doctor. He further said that in case of any major operations patients would be referred to the Al-Shifa Trust Eye hospital Rawalpindi.
At present, there are three functioning hospitals in three provinces of Pakistan (Rawalpindi, Sukkur, and Kohat) and Al-Shifa Trust is recognized internationally as a center of excellence in eye care. 4 million patients have been provided with state of art eye care and 400,000 have successfully undergone sight-restoring operations on average, Al-Shifa Trust Hospitals gave services to over 14,000 patients per month Said the executive director while giving the details. He said out of the patients treated at Al-Shifa’s eye hospitals, 70% of the patients are treated free of charge the remaining 30% are treated on subsidized and the rest on full charges.
A large number of schoolchildren have been caught by eye allergies in the city and cantonment area.
As many as 75 percent of the children who visited an eye screening camp set up by Al-Shifa rust Eye Hospital in different schools in the city wre found suffering from the disease.
Pollen,clothes,wood,cotton,wool,detergents,unhealthy food, preservatives in foods, coloured foods etc., almost anything could cayse allergies of the eyes. The green belts were also among the biggest reasons for allergies, a medical officer of Al-Shifa Eye Hospital said.
"The sole responsibilities falls upon parents to ensure their children's good health. They must make sure that children have healthy breakfast like an egg and a glass of milk and must visit an eye specialist every six months", said Dr. Kashif, Medical Officer, Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital.
The eye-screening camps set up at Army Public Scholl and Coolege, Fauji Foundation School, Airport and City campuses, Rainbow Foundation school and College, Eaglets Foundation School, focused on serious eye (vision) problems such as refractive errors and Ambyopia (failure of one eye to develop vision)
Eye Allergies in schoolchildren
The POST Wednesday March 7,2007
Rawalpindi: As many as 75 percent children who visited an eye-screening camp set up Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital here were found suffering from eye allergies.
The camps set up at Army Public School and College, Ordnance Road, Rawalpind, Fuji Foundation School, Airport Campus, Rainbow Foundation School and College, Eaglets Foundations School RWP and Fauji Foundation School City Campus focused on serious eye (vision) problems such as refractive errors and Ambyopia (failure of one eye to develop vision) among school-children between the age of 10 to12. Besides allergies, doctors also detected abnormalities of muscle balance and refractive errors in children.
Al most 1,500 children had gone through eye checks during the camp, said Dr. Kashifa, medical officer, Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital. “Out of every 100 children,15 to 20 had eye allergies besides some cases of refractive errors, Ambyopia, allergies conjunctivitis’s or squints. And this is a very high ratio in this school alone.”
Pollen, clothes, wood, cotton, wool, detergents, unhealthy food preservatives in foods, coloured foods and almost any thing could cause allergies of the eyes. The green belts were also amongst the biggest reasons for allergies, the doctor said.
“The sole responsibility falls upon parents to ensure their child’s good health. The must make sure that children have healthy breakfast like an egg and a glass of milk. Children must visit an eye specialist every six month.
People to be made aware of welfare services
The NEWS INTERNATIONAL
Islamabad: The government is pursuing an agenda of welfare of people to fully facilitate them in every sphere of life, said Pakistan Muslim League President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.
He was addressing a media workshop and photo exhibition organized by Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospitals here Friday.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Muhammad Ali Durrani, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Tariq Azeem Khan, PML Secretary General Mushahid Hussain Syed, Minister for Tourism Nilofar Bakhtiar and President of Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospitals LT-Gen® Jahan Dad Khan also addressed the workshop.
Shujaat Hussain said there is a dire need to create awareness among the people about the welfare services rendered by private sector institutions, adding Al-Shifa Trust is one of the leading institution that are serving the under served segment of the society.
The PML chief asked Pakistan Television Corporation to present one programme each in a month to highlight the welfare activities being done by Al-Shifa trust and other private sector institutions.
He said the Ministry of Information would also hold media workshops on quarterly basis to encourage people to come forward and extend their support for the cause of welfare of masses.
Referring to the services rendered by Lieutenant-General® Jahan Dad Khan, he said “he is a man of inborn qualities who left his footprints wherever he served. “Minister for Information and Broadcasting Muhammad Ali Durrani said media persons should further promote welfare activities being done both in public and private sectors to give inspiration to the general public.
He said “We have true leader ship in the country that wants to see the people becoming prosperous and well motivated for welfare activities. “The Minister said determination and dedication always make waves and :we need these in every sphere of life. “Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Tariq Azeem Khan said serving humanity is a noble mission that requires devotion on the part of people from all walks of life.
He said Jahan Dad Khan took a commendable initiative of setting up Al-Shifa Trust that also encouraged other segments to work for the betterment of humanity.
PML secretary general Mushahid Hussain Syed, who was also one of the organizers of the Workshop, said the Trust is a non profit and non-political organization that is committed to providing that is committed to providing eye care and treatment mainly to the under privileged and poor.
Mushahid said the Trust is able to meet only 30 to 40 per cent of its expenses from its own resources while the remaining expenses are met through donations.
He said:” The philanthropists should extend their full support to help the Trust expand its operational activates across the country.” Minister for Tourism Nilofar Bakhtiar said Jahan Dad Khan was a role model for those who want to utilize their potential to serve humanity.
She said the Ministry of Tourism will introduce a health tourism will introduce a health tourism programme in coordination with the Trust and modalities are being finalized in this respect.
Lieutenant-General® Jahan Dad Khan said the Trust has set up three eye hospitals in Rawalpindi, Sukkur and Kohat and arrangements are being made to set up two more hospitals in Quetta and Muzaffarabad.
He said the Trust has evolved a 20-year plan to expand its operations besides further improving the quality of care and treatment in the Al-Shifa hospitals.
Jahan Dad said more training programmers have also been started to improve professional competence of doctors and paramedics. Dr. Para Raja Segaram, a Sri Lankan ye surgeon, said he has been associated with the Trust since its early days and he is greatly inspired by the commitment and dedications of its members.
Prof. Dr. James E-Standefer from the University of Minnesota USA, said consistent and motivated efforts are needed to protect people from growing eye ailments across the world.
Later, the distinguished guests took a round of the photo gallery.
Al-Shifa Trust starts commercial projects
Al-Shifa Trust Eye hospital has started work on multi-million commercial projects as a part of its financial self-reliance drive.
This was stated by Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital President Lt Gen (Retd) Jahan Dad Khan while talking to the media persons here on Thursday.
He said that the plan included a multi-storied commercial complex at Rawalpindi eye hospital on GT Road besides CNG stations at sukkur and Kohat and a pharmaceutical and optical units.
Talking about the future plans of Al-shifa, Jahan Dad Khan said they were going to widen its operation by setting up two more state-of-the-art eye hospitals in Muzaffarabad and Quetta.
Jahan Dad Khan said that feasibility report of the Quetta hospital was being made while for Muzaffarabad Hospital the land survey was underway.
He said that the patients inflow in the Al-shifa Hospital was on continous rise and normally some 600 patients visited the hospital daily and they were expecting it to reach the mark of 1000 patients per day in next year or so.
Jahan Dad Khan further said that the cost of operation and treatment of patients had also increased many fold so they were left with no choice but to launch commercial projects to meet the ever increasing treatment cost and the projects in hand was a step toward the economic self reliance.
When asked about the completion of the Commercial Complex, Jahan Dad Khan said that the complex would be completed within two to three years time. He said that consultants and contractors have been finalised and work on the project has been initiated.
Jahan Dad said that the annual budget of the hospitals being run by them all over the country exceeded Rs 350 million mark and they were meeting it by donations and from self -generation projects. About the functional projects of Al-Shifa, Jahan Dad said that Al-Shifa was running a CNG station, pharmaceutical project where some 26 types of eye drops were produced and were made available at the hospitals all over the country at a reasonable price.
Eye hospital to be built in Muzaffarabad
By A Reporter
RAWALPINDI, May 14: People living in Azad Kashmir and other adjoining areas will have the facility of specialised eye treatment when the Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital will start its operation in Muzaffarabad by the end of 2009.
The Al-Shifa Trust will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the AJK government next week, as incidence of eye diseases was on the rise in the territory after the 2005 earthquake.
The AJK government has committed to provide land where construction of the hospital will begin early next year and the project will be completed in two years at a cost of Rs250 million.
A senior management team of the Al-Shifa Trust is to visit Muzaffarabad next week to select the site and sign the MoU.
Discover Islam, a renowned non-governmental organisation in Bahrain, will join hands with the Al-Shifa Trust to build the hospital in Azad Kashmir where there is no specialised eye treatment facilities.
The Bahrain-based NGO had provided the earthquake victims with large scale support and was involved in humanitarian activities together with the Al-Shifa Trust.
In the absence of any specialised eye hospital, patients from AJK and the adjoining division of Mansehra were frequently visiting the Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital in Rawalpindi.
Al-Shifa Trust President Lt-Gen (retired) Jahandad Khan had recently returned from a visit to Gulf States where he launched a campaign to create awareness and mobilise support for the trust, a press release issued here said.
The prospects of “Health Tourism” in Pakistan have now brightened as the Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital has started receiving significant a number of complicated eye treatment cases from Afghanistan and the Gulf States.
This number is increasing rapidly due to the fact that the cost of treatment at the Al-Shifa facility is much lower than those available in India, the US or the UK.
After 9/11, a large number of patients from Gulf States who used to go to the US and Europe have now started turning towards the East.
India is earning $5 billion per annum from these health contests. If the Al-Shifa Trust succeeds in getting overseas patients, it will find a valuable source of generating funds in foreign exchange.
Local chapters of “Friends of Al-Shifa” have been established in different locations of the Gulf States.
These have been assigned the task of enlarging the circle of friends and creating awareness about the treatment facilities available at the Al-Shifa Trust Eye hospitals in Rawalpindi, Sukkur and Kohat.
Al-Shifa chief Seeks Gulf states support for turst
President of Al-Shifa Trust Lt Gen (r) Jahan Dad Khan paid a 15 days visit to the Gulf states, to create awareness and mobilise support for the trust.
The focus of the visit was to create wide scales awareness about the treatment facilities available at hospitals of Rawalpindi, Sukkur and Kohat, running under the trust.
According toa press release, Al-shifa Trust established a close affiliation with a renowned NGO of Bahrain, called "Discover is Lam." The NGO extended signigicant support to victims of October 2005 earthquake in Azad Kashmir.
They have agreed to work in collaboration with Al-shifa in various humanitarian projects, the first being the establishment of Al-Shifa Eye Hospital, Muzaffarabad, which is a pressing need of the area comprising Azad Kashmir. Northern Areas and adjoining division of Mansehra.
There are no specialised eye treatement facilities available in the area and patients have to come all the way to Rawalpindi.
Al-shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Muzaffarabad is at its planning stage. AJK governement has agreed to provide land for the hospital. An MoU between AJK governement and Al-shifa will signed soon, in this regard. Work on this project would sstart by early next year, after completion of the architectural plan.
The hospital will be completed in two years, i.e by the end of 2009, at the cost of Rs 25 corores.
During the visit, the prospects of health tourism were explored with regard to the health sector in Pakistan. After 9/11 a large number of patients from Gulf States, who used to go to USA, UK and other wstern countries for treatment, have now started turning to Asian states. India is earning $5 billions from these health contests per annum. The number of patients from the region is fast growing.
The trust provides training to doctors from several neighbouring countries, in various courses. We have the capacity to train more doctors and paramedics. howerever to make a break through, support of the concerned governmental authorities would be required.
Expatriates pledge support to expand Al-shifa network
President of Al-Shifa Trust Lt. Gen(r) Jahan Dad Khan paid a 15 days visit to Gulf States to create awarness and mobilise support for the trust.
According to a press statement issued here on Monday, the visit was highly successful and expatriates responded every enthusiastically to help this charitable venture.
Jahan Dad Khan met an office bearer of Chief Executives Officers Club at UAE (CEO). This club is closely associated with all in international donor agencies, philanthropic organizations and multi-nationsl business houses. The CEO Club agreed to register. Al-Shifa Trust in principle subject to completion of documentary formalities.
Another achievement of this visit was exploring the prospects of Health Tourism in Pakistan. After 9/11 a large number of patients from Gulf States who used to go to USA, UK and other Western Countries have now started turning East. India is earning $5 billions from these health already getting singificant number of complicated eye treatemnt cases from Afghanistan and Gulf States.
In this visit Al-Shifa contacted concerned local authorities offering teatment facilities in Pakistan and their response was very positive. Al-shifa also established a close affiliation with renowned NGO of Bahrain, called Discover Islam.
The NGO had extended large scale support to victims of Oct 2005 Earthquake in Azad Kahmir.
5,000 receive treatement at free eye camps
The Al-Shifa Trust Eye hospital has provided treatment to over 5,000 patients in 22 free eye camps organized during May, 2007 as part of its community outreach programme.
The Al-Shifa Trust team conducted these camps in far-flung areas like the Boner disrict, Khushab, Swabi, Bhalwal and the Mirpur district.
Camps were also organised in Toot, Sagri,Dhok Fateh, Jand in the Attock district, Bewal Khauti, Santh Anwali, Pathwera in the Rawalpindi district Shah Muhammad, Afzalabad, Talokar, Kaileg in the Haripur district, Kharian, Jhelum, Chakwal and Lora in the Abbottabad district.
According to the director of the Al-Shifa Trust's Centre for Community Ophthalmology, Dr. Mehmood Khalid Bhatti, the camps were aimed at providing best eye care facilities for the neeedy at their doorstep. He said the medical team had almost achived its mission by making people aware of eye diseases.
A team of specialist doctors, comprising Dr. Jaffer Feroz Khan, Dr. Maryam Zakia and a health educationist, Aslam Shah; camp organiser, Mohamed Aslam and 10 paramedics conducted these camps.
The camp organiser said the turnout was much higher than expected and a large number of patients visited the camps and appreciated the initiative.
The local governement counsellors have requested more such camps and assured their assistance in this regard. The hospital intends to organise 20 more camps in this month.
In all, 5,020 patiensts were screened at 22 different camps and medicines, lenses and glasses were provided to the needy without any charge.
Out of these patients, 280 patiensts were diagnosed as serious case and referred to the hospital for sugery. The have already undergone surgeries and were recovering, the camp organiser informed.
Dr. Khan said most patients has cataract or glaucoma. Others complained of weak refractive power, watering of eyes and squint eyes.While some night blindess cases were also diagnosed.
Marriages between close relatives and persistent infections due caused by lack of awareness about basic hygiene and eye care were said to be the major causes for vision disorder among children, the doctos said.
Anaesthetists Play major role behind the scene
Rafeeq, a thirteen-year-old boy from sargodha, was blind and had ongenital heart disease. He was refused treatment because of a major risk to his life. First, no hospital was taking the risk of administrating him general anaesthesia and secondly he could not afford his eye treatment. The district hospitals had referred him ti Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Rawalpindi, for free treatment.He was operated upon there and finally he was able to see. In modern medical practice, general anaesthesia is a state of total unconsciousness resulting from anaesthetic drugs. We cannot deny the importance of anaesthesia, which are a variety of drugs given to the patient that have different effects with the overall aim of ensuring unconsciousness.
Al-shifa Trust Eye Hospital Senior Anaesthetist Lieutenant Colonel ® Dr. Shafeequllah Khan, while taking to the “The News’ here on Thursday, said that our interaction with the patient starts a day before operation. “Prior to surgery, the anaesthetist interviews the patient to determine the best combination and drugs and dosages and the degree of how much monitoring is required to ensure a safe and effective procedure. Pertinent information is the patient’s age, weight, medical history, current medications, previous anaesthetics and fasting time. By getting the complete picture of the patient we give them a sleeping dose of Pentothal injection or Diprivan. Then the tube of anaesthesia is inserted into the mouth and the patient is operated upon, “ Dr. Shafeequllah said, “we play a major role behind the curtain, as we are the one who technically control the stability of the patient and make the conditions favorable for a successful operation. “ First we take the high risk consent from the patient’s parents and then we go ahead with our procedures. It is amazing that 99 per cent of the patient’s guardians are willing to take the risk and give us the green signal, “ he said, “We cannot relax as each and every patient that ranges from a 6-7 day infant to an 80 year old person has a different physiology and responds to medicines differently. We have to be on our toes all the time and be very vigilant, as far as patient’s safety is concerned.”
This scribe had the unique opportunity to go inside the “Operation Theater while wearing all the protective gears and witnessing the procedures of anaesthesia being conducted of anaesthesia being conducted on a patient. Two patients were operated upon and the surgeons briefed about the procedures of local and general anaesthesia in an ophthalmic surgery. When asked about the difference between a general anaesthetists and ophthalmic anaesthetists, Anaesthesiologist Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital Dr. Tariq Nadeem said that more risk is involved in the eye surgeries because we have to check the pressure in the eye, movement of the eyeball should be restricted to the minimal and the depth of anaesthesia is measured. These are factors that are involved in delicate eye surgery that is done under the magnifying lens. Dr. Tariq Nadeem, who is a paediatric ophthalmologist, briefed about the factors that ark taken into consideration before an ophthalmic surgery. “Only 1/3rd surgeries are given under general anaesthesia otherwise it is done in local anaesthesia, “he said.
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