Abstract

There are estimated to be almost 18 million people who are bilaterally blind from cataract,
representing almost half of all causes of blindness due to eye diseases globally. Visually
disabling cataract occurs far more frequently in developing countries than in industrialized
countries. The proportion of blindness in children due to cataract varies considerably
between regions from 10%- 30% with a global average estimated 14% giving 19,000
children blind from cataract.
Children who are blind have to overcome a lifetime of emotional, social and economic
difficulties, which affect the child, family and society. The timely recognition and intervention
can improve visual outcome, as the condition is treatable, thus eliminating blind years due
to child hood cataract and improving quality of life. The high number of blind years
resulting from blindness during childhood is one of the reasons why the control of child
hood blindness is a priority of the WHO/IAPB vision 2020 “the right to sight” programme.
Pakistan is trying hard to achieve the goals of vision 2020. However it is very unfortunate
that no data on the prevalence of pediatric cataract is available yet. Even the national
survey for blindness and visual impairment did not address the issue. However for better
planning one need to have a base line epidemiological data. The purpose of present study
is to determine the prevalence and frequency of different types of pediatric cataract in
children presenting at AIEH. The study will not only provide data to the national platform
and help in planning to provide adequate and efficient diagnostic and therapeutic services
to the children with cataract.

Key words:
vision 2020, WHO, childhood blindness, pediatric cataract,
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iv
William Tasman MD, Edward A. Jaeger MD. Duane's Ophthalmology. Philadelphia Lippincott-

Raven Publishers; 1997:2025 Electronic version