World Retina Day today

Islamabad

Retinal diseases are among the most common causes of vision loss in the global working population. The impact of these conditions on quality of life, be they rare and inherited or age-related, is immense. However, there is hope.  Potential treatments that could consign certain forms of blindness to the history books are imminent, yet understanding the genetic condition that affects each patient is essential if clinical trials are to be effective and treatment successful.

Retina International is working to ensure that patients affected by all retinal diseases have access to the resources that will assist them in making informed decisions about their treatment options and indeed their participation in clinical trials.

In the case of Inherited Retinal Diseases (IRDs), patients and their families must understand the gene that is causing their condition. Access to genetic testing differs from country to country and region to region.

On the occasion of World Retina Day, which is observed every year on September 24, Christina Fasser, president of Retina International, has stressed the importance of genotyping in retinal disease. “Due to the genetic characteristics of IRDs, a good and reliable genetic diagnosis is a prerequisite for inclusion in the appropriate clinical trials. Retina International is currently developing a toolkit to enable its members globally to be informed about the new possibilities of genetic diagnosis and encouraged to promote and advocate for accessibility to a genetic diagnosis and the reimbursement of genetic testing procedures in their own regions and countries,” she states.

The Pakistan Foundation Fighting Blindness, a charitable organization which continues to render enviable services for persons suffering from visual impairment has appealed to members of the community to donate generously for sustaining its research project. „Your donation will help us find cures and treatments for genetically transmitted eye disorders,“ an official of PFFB stated.