Status of children in blind schools in the Northern Areas of Pakistan

Prevalence of blindness in Pakistan is estimated to be 0.9%, which comes to about 1.25 million persons. A significant number of these are persons under 20 years of age. To make these children useful citizens in future, special facilities are to be provided to these children for their education and training. A study was done to find out the visual status of the students studying in a blind school in Abbottabad, Pakistan, the only such facility in the region. A total of 50 patients were examined during our visit to the blind school in Abbottabad. Age of the patients ranged from 6 to 27 years [mean: 12.32 years]. All the students, who were otherwise healthy, were included in the study. The most common disorder identified was malformed globe or traumatic eyes [16 cases, 32%], in most of the cases, leading to phthisis bulbi. Other conditions noticed were Retinitis Pigmentosa [10 cases, 20%], Keratoconus, Optic atrophy, Buphthalmos [6 cases each, 12%], corneal opacity [4 cases, 8%] and retinal detachment [2 cases 4%]. We should work towards betterment of these schools by providing them with more funds, equipment and manpower. Regular visits of Ophthalmologists to these schools may be helpful. Genetic counselling should be arranged for the families

Recurrent episcleritis in children-less than 5 years of age

Episcleritis, though common in adults, is a rare disease in children. Episcleritis is associated with systemic diseases in a third of cases in adults. Here we describe systemic diseases associated with recurrent episcleritis in children less than five years of age. This Retrospective Observational case series study was conducted at the Department of Ophthalmology of Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad, from March 1995 till February, 2006. Six children diagnosed clinically with recurrent episcleritis were included in this study. Complete ophthalmologic as well as systemic evaluation was done in each case. This study was conducted on 6 children with a diagnosis of recurrent episcleritis. There were four boys and two girls, with an age range of 35-52 months. Right eye was involved in three cases, left eye in two cases while one case had a bilateral disease. Recurrence occurred in the same eye in all cases, with one bilateral involvement. Four children [66%] had a history of upper respiratory tract infection in the recent past. No other systemic abnormality was detected in any case. Two cases had a history of contact with a pet animal. Recurrent episcleritis in young children is a benign condition. Upper respiratory tract infection is the most common systemic association. Pet animals may be a contributory factor

Uveo meningeal syndrome [Hadara] disease

A case of bilateral exudative retinal detachment in a young girl of 13 years is reported. She had fever, Headache and vomitting prior to ocular symptoms. On examination she had premature greying of hair and ophthalmoscopy showed bilateral hazy vitreous, swollen optic discs and exudative retinal detachment. Therefore, a diagnosis of Harada disease was made. She was treated with high doses of steroids to which she responded very well