RIYADH, 5 May 2004 — A senior pediatric ophthalmologist advised parents to take care of their children’s eyes and to look out for symptoms of serious conditions. The Chief of the Pediatric Ophthalmology Division at the King Khalid Eye Specialist Hospital Dr. Saleh Al Misfer told parents that they should be aware of children’s eye diseases which can lead to malignancy due to negligence.
“Retinoblastoma is the most common intra-ocular malignant tumor among children between 1-5 years of age whose initial symptoms are Leukoria (white pupils) and strabismus (squinting),” said Dr. Misfer adding that the disease is prevalent one in 25,000 children worldwide. In the Kingdom, it is one in 15,000, said Dr. Misfer. He said the advanced stage of the disease can lead to the removal of the eye or even death. He said the surgery takes only an hour but the patients need good post-operative care, often given by their parents.
Since 1983, the Kingdom has conducted 600 operations on retinoblastoma patients who are expected to come back for post-surgical observation once every two years. The KKESH gets about 25 patients annually for this type of surgery said Dr. Misfer.
The Director of the Social Services Department at the hospital, Ferial Kurdi, said her department offers counseling services to the parents of the pediatric patients who have malignant eye diseases. She pointed out that guidance is essential to such parents as they tend to get demoralized when they know how serious their children’s eye disease really is. “Our group therapy among parents has gone a long way in ensuring good health among their children who have undergone this surgery,” Kurdi said. She pointed out that the group therapy helps parents to exchange experiences.
