A patient’s eye being screened for him for free at KATH
About 190,000 Ghanaians are suffering from blindness, a survey conducted in the country in 2015, has revealed.
Twelve percent of the 190,000 people are above 80 years, whilst four percent of blind people are 50 years and above.
Cataract was identified to be the major cause of blindness with 54.8 percent of the population, and glaucoma also mentioned as one of the key causes of the blindness.
Head of the Eye Department of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Dr Seth Lartey, revealed the startling statics at a function.
According to him, most of the blindness could have been prevented had the infected people reported their eye defects to hospital early enough.
He expressed worry about situations whereby people with eye defects report their cases to the hospital during the advanced stages of their ailment.
Dr Lartey maintained that it is extremely difficult to prevent blindness, especially when the people report to the hospital for treatment very late.
He was speaking the World Sight Day which is marked in October of every year across the globe to create awareness about the eye.
Dr Lartey mentioned that regular screening of the eye is one of the surest ways to prevent blindness, most of which are preventable.
He admonished the populace to pay attention to their eyes and report any defects to qualified eye practitioners for prompt treatment.
Dr Lartey also urged people with eye defects who medical doctors have prescribed glasses for to adhere to doctors’ advice by using the glasses.
This year’s World Sight Day was under the theme: ‘Stronger Together’ and it was under the auspices of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Dr Lartey also disclosed that there are 1,117 eye workers in Ghana and this includes 97 eye specialists and 200 eye optometrists.
He stated that there are 300 eye nurses, bemoaning that the number of qualified people who treat eye cases in the country is woefully inadequate.
Dr Lartey, therefore, stressed the need for more eye workers to be trained so that they could contribute to prevent the occurrence of blindness.
KATH as part of the World Sight Day also organised a free eye screening for people in Kumasi and its nearby areas.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi