Nairobi — Health experts have sounded an alarm over increased cases of a rare, fast-growing eye cancer that afflicts children. The cancer, known as Retinoblastoma, usually forms in an infant's retina and may affect one or both eyes.

Tumours usually develop before the age of four years while some babies are born with the cancer.

Vision-saving treatments include laser, freezing therapy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. But a majority of children undergo surgical removal of the eye, medically referred as enucleation, to protect their lives. This is the only treatment option in many developing countries.

According to experts, the disease affects 92 per cent of children in developing countries where knowledge, resources and expertise to diagnose and treat the cancer are limited.

In Kenya, the disease occurs in one out of 17,030 live births, which translates to about 24 cases a year.

Speaking during a meeting at a Mombasa hotel, Daisy's Eye Cancer Fund chief executive Brian Ouma said the organisation will soon set up a state-of-the-art centre to help in the treatment of the disease.

The centre, which will be established at the University of Nairobi's School of Dental Science, will also be the national diagnostic referral centre for retinoblastoma.

The three-day meeting assembled about 70 eye experts, philanthropists and survivors of the disease.

During the meeting, Rotary International district governor Tadesse Alemu presented a Sh15,000 cheque to the fund.

A participant, Dr Michael Gichangi said retinoblastoma was a curable disease if detected early and urged parents to ensure any suspected case was diagnosed at the earliest opportunity.

Meanwhile, Mr Ouma said a special camera known as Retcam Shuttle, which will enable experts to save the sight of children through telemedicine, will soon be set-up at the centre.