CB BureauOver 8,000 new cases of retinoblastoma – the most common type
of childhood eye cancer – are detected every year worldwide, with over 1,000
new cases in India. Retinoblastoma is curable if the tumour is detected early.
Early diagnosis can help save the eye through chemotherapy and focal treatment,
thus saving the life, eye and vision of the child.
Hyderabad-based LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) treats about
150 to 200 retinoblastoma cases every year, of which 5 per cent to 10 per cent
are in late stages. As part of their vision for the next 25 years, LVPEI has
set up an Institute for Eye cancer. Dr Swathi Kaliki, consultant ocular
oncologist, LVPEI, said, ‘Over the past decade, we have treated more than 1,500
patients with retinoblastoma eye cancer, a majority of them being children. We
intend to reach out to more people, increase capacity, and build new
technologies and new research. The aim is to provide best possible holistic
clinical care and cutting-edge treatment to the patients with retinoblastoma.’
It is imperative that the parent or caregiver immediately
get their baby’s eyes checked by an eye doctor, if any one of these symptoms is
noticed: a) a white reflex (shining eyes), b) squinting eyes, c) red, sore or
swollen eye without infection, d) a change in colour of the iris (the coloured
part of the eye), or e) deterioration of vision.
Retinoblastoma involves one eye in 60 per cent cases, and
involves both eyes in the remaining 40 per cent. Family history of
retinoblastoma is present in 10 per cent cases, and is sporadic in 90 per cent
cases. The siblings of children with retinoblastoma are also at risk of
developing the disease, and thus routine eye screening of siblings is
recommended.
In addition to comprehensive eye care, LV Prasad Eye
Institute provides sight enhancement and rehabilitation services at the Institute
as also through its rural eye health network; offers professional ophthalmic
training at all levels; and conducts eye-care research. The Institute is a
World Health Organization (WHO) centre for the prevention of blindness and a
Global Resource Center for VISION 2020, a worldwide initiative for the
elimination of avoidable blindness led by WHO and the International Agency for
the Prevention of Blindness.
This year, May 10th to 16th has been marked as
the 8th World Retinoblastoma Awareness Week to bring public focus on this eye
disease that affects children in the age group of 0″5 years.