The LV Prasad Eye Institute on Sunday conducted a marathon for raising awareness regarding retinal cancer among children.
The marathon was flagged off by Telangana Director General of Police Anjani Kumar at the University of Hyderabad. Over 2,200 people, including armed forces personnel participated in the event.
Speaking of the event, Kumar said, “It is a pleasure to be here early Sunday morning for a great cause. It’s a great initiative by LV Prasad Eye Institute for a healthy eye, for early detection and prevention of eye cancer. The city is becoming more and more global, when we say we have evolved, the criteria is we run for a cause, we just don’t run for our fitness, that is what human civilisation is about, you have concern for the others and also for the future generations, because so many young children are here. I don’t know where AI will really take us to, these kids will be running AI technology then. My good wishes to all of you to stay healthy and spread the light of health to everyone.”
Speaking of the initiative, Dr Swathi Kaliki, Ocular Oncologist and Head of the Operation Eyesight Universal Institute for Eye Cancer at LV Prasad Eye Institute, said, “It is crucial for parents and the community to be aware of the common symptoms of eye cancer in children, with white reflex being the most important one, and to seek timely medical care. Retinoblastoma eye cancer is curable if the tumour is detected and treated early, thus saving the life, eye, and vision of the child.”
Through this initiative, LVPEI aims to raise awareness among the public that if they spot a ‘White Reflex’ in a child’s eye, it could be a sign of eye cancer that needs immediate medical intervention. Treating eye cancer can be a costly and prolonged affair. The funds raised from this run go towards providing free treatment to children from less privileged backgrounds who are afflicted with retinoblastoma.
