LVPEI holds first Whitathon Run

Hyderabad: To raise awareness on early detection of eye cancer (Retinoblastoma) in children, LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) organized the first "WHITATHON" Run at Necklace Road on Sunday, to commemorate the World Retinoblastoma Awareness Week, which is observed from May 13 to May 19. The Run was flagged off by Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad City, Anjani Kumar.

Retinoblastoma, most commonly affects children below 3 years of age. 20 to 25 per cent cases of eye cancer worldwide in children are from India and 50 per cent of cases worldwide lose their lives due to late detection and inadequate treatment.

Dr Swathi Kaliki, Ocular Oncologist and Head - Operation Eyesight Universal Institute for Eye Cancer at L V Prasad Eye Institute, said "Every day 4 children are diagnosed with eye cancer in India and worldwide, 50 per cent children with retinoblastoma die because of late detection. It is critical to create awareness on the importance of early detection of the disease, so that no child dies of eye cancer needlessly and our children enjoy better chances of eye and vision preservation.

Early diagnosis can help save the eye through chemotherapy and focal treatment, thus saving the life, eye, and the vision of the child. Over the past decade, LVPEI has treated 1500+ patients with retinoblastoma eye cancer, most of them being children less than 5 years of age, and of that 60 per cent were treated free of cost.