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Toy Air Guns Can Cause Serious Eye Injuries
 “Pellet injuries from plastic toy air guns are common among children playing with these devices,” said Dr Rashid Baig, Consultant Ophthalmologist, speaking at a programme on eye disorders and related issues organised by Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH). High speed pellets fired from very near can damage the eye causing bleeding in the eye, retinal detachment and other injuries. Children should be discouraged from playing with such ‘toys'.
Eye injury or ocular trauma is a leading cause of eyesight loss, especially in young individuals and children. Common causes include traffic accidents, chemical injuries such as acid and alkali burns, and bomb explosions. If an eye is injured, early diagnosis, referral to a tertiary care centre and treatment can improve the outcome. In industrial environments, wearing safety goggles is common-sense protection for at-risk individuals. Dr Baig called for raising public awareness of the causes of eye injuries, their symptoms and when to seek medical care to reduce the incidence of this important cause of visual disability.
Cataracts, on the other hand, are the leading cause of reduced vision in older people. A cataract is clouding of the normally clear lens in the eye that blurs vision. Most cataracts develop slowly and eventually interfere with vision, at which point, surgery is the only option. Cataract surgery has become one of the safest and most common surgical procedures today.
Dr Sharmeen Akram, Consultant Ophthalmologist spoke on common eye disorders. Many conditions affect the eyes with a ‘red eye' being a very common one. It is usually caused by an infection known as conjunctivitis though other, more serious conditions such as glaucoma and uveitis ( inflammation of the middle layer of the eye) may also cause redness. If a person has a ‘red eye' and pain or impaired vision, it is best to consult an eye doctor at the earliest, for a proper diagnosis and treatment. She advised against using home remedies such as rose water and over-the-counter medications. A healthy lifestyle with regular exercise, proper diet and follow-ups with a physician and eye doctor can lead to the early detection of such conditions, enabling timely intervention and better treatment results.
“Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness causing irreversible damage to the nerve of the eye,” said Dr Mahnaz Naveed Shah, Consultant Ophthalmologist. Once detected, this can be controlled by appropriate use of medications, laser treatment and several types of surgical procedures. Appropriate and timely diagnosis and treatment allows a person to continue to enjoy good vision and avoid eyesight loss. Dr Mahnaz discussed the risk factors for glaucoma, its different types and the availability of a wide range of treatment options.
AKUH organises such programmes as part of its outreach and societal commitment of creating awareness of early diagnosis and timely treatment. The Hospital has organised over 300 Signs, Symptoms and Care programmes in Karachi, Hyderabad, Quetta and the UAE, benefiting more than 50,000 people.
Similarly, AKUH's Patient Welfare Programme provides assistance to those patients who are unable to afford the medical cost of their treatment. Seventy-three per cent of all patients treated are from low- to middle-income groups. Since inception of this welfare programme in 1986, Rs. 2 billion has been disbursed to more than 300,000 needy patients.
For further information, please contact:
Department of Public Affairs
Aga Khan University
Stadium Road, P.O. Box 3500, Karachi-74000
Fax: 493-4294, 493-2095
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