Weak eyesight and other vision problems are becoming more common among children, according to a new report by Al-Shifa Trust.
The trust has now decided to expand its eye screening programme in schools. The programme helps to identify eye problems in children at an early stage.
Refractive errors most common eye problem
According to the report prepared by the Al-Shifa Centre for Community Ophthalmology, refractive errors were the most common eye problem found during school screenings.
Other common problems included squint, conjunctivitis, eyelid inflammation and styes.
The report highlighted the importance of school eye screenings for the early detection of vision problems among children.
More than 5,000 school screening camps in Rawalpindi
Since its establishment, the Al-Shifa Centre for Community Ophthalmology has organised more than 5,000 school screening camps in Rawalpindi, Sukkur, Kohat, Muzaffarabad and Chakwal.
More than seven million people have benefited from the programme.
The programme has also organised more than 500 surgical camps. More than 100,000 people have received free cataract surgeries.
Eye care services are also being provided in rural areas. Three mobile operation theatres have been set up to provide sight-restoring surgeries in remote areas. These also include cataract surgeries.
Eye patients increased in 2025-26
During 2025-26, a total of 715,333 patients received outpatient eye care services under the programme.
The number was 665,608 in 2024-25.
General Manager of the Al-Shifa Centre for Community Ophthalmology, Dr Hafiz Muhammad Najam-ul-Hasanat, said the school screening programme is playing an important role in identifying vision problems among children at an early stage.
