LAHORE:Lahore General Hospital (LGH) has become the first public sector hospital in the region to offer advanced laser treatment for glaucoma.
Two state-of-the-art laser machines were donated to the Department of Ophthalmology by philanthropists. The machines were formally inaugurated by Prof Dr Farooq Afzal, Principal of Amiruddin Medical College.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof Dr Farooq Afzal appreciated that philanthropists’ role in serving suffering humanity. He said their generous support has enabled the hospital to provide world-class treatment to patients. He added that modern technology would not only benefit patients but will also allow young doctors to get Level IV training, enabling them to provide high-quality glaucoma care across the country.
Prof Dr Tayyaba Gul, Head of the Ophthalmology Department, informed that glaucoma has more than 100 types. Traditionally, patients had to use expensive eye drops for extended period. With these advanced laser machines, patients will now be spared the continuous use of drops while their vision can be effectively preserved. She termed glaucoma a silent thief of sight and highlighted that symptoms are often not noticeable in the early stages, making timely diagnosis critical.
She underscored the key symptoms of glaucoma, which include persistent headache or heaviness in the head, pain or pressure in the eyes, blurred vision, loss of peripheral vision and seeing coloured halos around lights. She advised that people above 40 years of age, especially those with a family history of glaucoma, should undergo regular comprehensive eye examinations.
