Centre for Sight (CFS), a leading chain of super specialized eye hospitals across India, has opened National Retinoblastoma Foundation at its centre in Hyderabad. The main aim of the Foundation is to provide special care and attention to patients, especially children, who are suffering from retinoblastoma disorder.

Retinoblastoma is the most common and life-threatening eye cancer in young children, new born to three years of age, generally resulting in removal of the eye. Each year, more than 5000 new cases of retinoblastoma are diagnosed in the world, of which a third (over 1500) are diagnosed in India. With improved techniques and technologies, survival of children with retinoblastoma has improved but low awareness is still a cause of concern. If detected early retinoblastoma can be cured completely. Some of the symptoms of retinoblastoma include, a white shiny reflex in the child’s eye, crossed eyes or ‘squint’, swelling of the eye, and continuous watering are other symptoms.

“This dangerous eye cancer is caused due to genetic disorders and can pass hereditary from parents to children. In some cases the reasons of the disease are unknown,” said Dr Santosh G Honavar, director - Medical Services and head – Ocular Oncology & Oculoplasty, CFS Hyderabad. As India has the highest number of retinoblastoma (Rb) affected children in the world, with about 1500 new cases reported each year, the inauguration of the National Retinoblastoma Foundation carries significance in the country.

The Foundation has a dedicated team comprising of an ocular oncologist, paediatric oncologist, ophthalmic oncopathologist, expert chemotherapy nurse, and an ocularist. The key members of the team Dr Santosh G Honavar, ocular oncologist and Dr Vijay Anand P Reddy, oncologist have been working together for the cause of retinoblastoma for over 15 years and have together treated over 2000 children with retinoblastoma. “Our time-tested, evidence-based and experience-driven treatment protocols for early and advanced intraocular retinoblastoma, orbital retinoblastoma and adjuvant therapy are personalized to each child to optimize the outcome. If the child is examined early by a child specialist or an eye doctor and referred to an eye cancer specialist for treatment, then the cancer can be controlled and the child’s life, eye and vision can be saved,” said, Dr Santosh.

The Centre also plans to have special programmes to promote the awareness on retinoblastoma during the World Retinoblastoma Awareness Week to be observed from May13-20, 2013.