SACHET-Pakistan organized a one-day free eye screening camp with the collaboration of Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Rawalpindi on Monday, 20th September 2021 at SACHET clinic Banigala, Mohra Noor, Islamabad. The eye camp was aimed at providing free Eye Care Services to the disadvantaged populace in the rural areas of Islamabad. Community members including men, women and children attended the camp including community members from Mohra Noor, Lakhwal, Nai Abadi, Kachi Abadi, Mughlan, Kuri Shehar, Rihara, Balagh, Malpur, Bhara Kahu, Shahzad Town, Dhok Jelani, Mohalla Malkan, Malik Abad, and Dhok Ilahi Baksh. Security was ensured by formally informing the SHO of Police Station Bhara Kahu, Islamabad.
The medical team provided following free services to the patients at the free eye camp:
1. Visual acuity test.
2. Objective Refractive error measurement through Auto-refractometer.
3. Preliminary Examination.
4. Refraction (The process to advice the vision spectacles number).
5. Final examination by Eye Specialist.
6. Free medicines.
7. Vision correction spectacles.
8. Awareness lecture on “Special Eye Care”.
The patients with complicated issues and for Cataract or Pterygium surgeries were referred to main hospital Rawalpindi for further investigation and treatment.
Summary of patients received treatment during the camp
| Sr No | Description | Number |
| 1 | Total Patients treated | 762 |
| 2 | Male patients (Adults) | 192 |
| 3 | Female patients (Adults) | 336 |
| 4 | Children (Female) below 16 years | 164 |
| 5 | Children (Male) below 16 years | 70 |
| 6 | Patients received free medicines | 284 |
| 7 | Patients received free spectacles | 196 |
| 8 | Patients referred to Al-Shifa Eye Hospital for free cataract surgery | 61 |
| 9 | Patients referred to Al-Shifa Eye Hospital for other than surgery | 73 |
Summary of diagnosis during the eye camp
| S. No | Diagnosis | Number |
| 1 | Conjunctivitis | 46 |
| 2 | Corneal Opacity | 13 |
| 3 | Pterygium | 35 |
| 4 | Squint/Orthoptic Assessment | 31 |
| 5 | Glaucoma | 4 |
| 6 | Cataract Surgeries | 26 |
| 7 | Surgeries other than Cataract | 73 |
| 8 | General Screening | 534 |
| Number of total cases | 762 | |
The eye camp turned out to be highly effective in the early diagnosis of curable eye diseases in children, who can then be treated accordingly and prevent them from becoming handicapped later in life. The provision of eye services in such under-served areas has served as a great social endeavor and will serve as a goodwill tool among the local population of Islamabad region. The local populace of Banigala and its adjacent localities greatly appreciated the effort of SACHET and requested to hold frequent camps in future as well. Patients were grateful and satisfied with the team of Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Rawalpindi for providing quality care.
