[Pak Daily Times] A leading eye-care hospital said today the cousin marriages and diabetes are two major causes of blindness, which is growing with a fast pace in Pakistain.The inherited diseases, including blindness, are due to the common practice of blood-related marriages, said Al-Shifa Trust President Lt Gen (r) Hamid Javaid.
Speaking at an awareness session, he said that many families prefer consanguineous marriages despite knowing the negative impact on the generations to come. More awareness needs to be created about the disease and the pitfall of cousin marriage. He said the premarital testing can help reduce the risks associated with the trend. "There are economic, social and cultural factors, including clan solidarity, interpersonal compatibility, preservation of family property, social protection for women, which are supporting marriages within the families," Hamid Javaid informed. He said that the habit of consuming a good quantity of carbohydrate-rich food can cause problems such as blindness. He also said that high amount of glucose resulted in inflammation and harms the retina and the capillaries that supply blood to the eyes.