110,000 curable corneal blind in Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD, November 05, 2009 (Balochistan Times): According to an estimate, over 110,000 curable corneal blind exist in the country, whose vision can be restored by cornea grafting, Rawalpindi Eye Donor Organization (REDO) officials said. Talking to APP the officials felt the need for launching a motivation campaign for eye donation through print and electronic media, panel discussions and other suitable methods to create awareness among the masses. World Health Organization (WHO) figures reveal that about 314 million people are visually impaired worldwide, 45 million of them are blind and about 87 percent of the worlds visually impaired live in developing countries. Saima Ammar, Chief Executive Officer, Pakistan Foundation Fighting Blindness (PFFB) said cousin marriage is the major reason of blindness in the country. She said, this ratio could be checked by a blood test which ensure that the person is carrier of blindness inheritance or not and if a person is found tendency of carrying it, he/she should not be married with any cousin. She said that people did not want to disclose blindness considering it a social stigma but these people contribute positively in national progress if got adequate education and opportunities.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)