Events, For Children

World Retinoblastoma Awareness Week 2014

Retinoblastoma is a cancer that affects the retina of an eyeball in children aged 0-5. Unfortunately, many parents fail to recognize the symptoms this cancer presents and thereby end up at the doctor’s office in the later stages of the tumor. As a part of an awareness programme, ophthalmologists at LVPEI observed World Retinoblastoma Awareness Week from 11 to 15th May 2014 across the state.

According to the doctors, the symptoms of the disease can be observed if a child has crossed or squint eyes, constant swelling in the eye, continuous watering and also rapid loss of vision. In such cases parents must get an eye checkup with an ophthalmologist.

patients coming in at the last stage when the cancer from the eye has spread to the brain. Or it has grown too large in the eye. If detected early it can be cured. But we find patients complaining that they went to health professional but were given drops and medicines and told that it would be fine,” says Dr Vijay Anand Reddy, Director, Apollo Cancer Hospital.