Multitudes access eye care at 92nd Vision Care Camp

Tema, July 19, GNA- Crowds of people, numbering several hundreds have since Monday been trooping to the Vision Care Eye Clinic camp pitched at the Tema General Hospital, to have their eyes checked for various ailments and to access the free cataract surgery offered by the group.

After the initial screening, about 100 out of the 230 examined, as at Tuesday have been marked for cataract surgery, while others have been put on treatment for various eye ailments.

Dubbed: 9392nd Vision Eye Care Camp", the team, made up of eye doctors, technicians and volunteers of Koreans resident in the United States of America and Korea are in Ghana from July 18 to 24 2011, to conduct eye screening and cataract surgery.

The Association of Korean Residents in Ghana is facilitating the exercise with the travel documentation, accommodation and medical equipment amongothers,

Mr Ilse Choi, Vice President of the Association told the Ghana News Agency (GNA), on Tuesday at Tema.

Mr Choi said the Association is throwing its weight behind the exercise because it was a worthy cause.

"Last year, with the co-operation and support from Tema General Hospital and ophthalmologists in Ghana, the Vision Care team from the US and Korea was able to treat 129 patients through cataract and other surgeries.

This year,they are back to the Tema General Hospital to conduct the Vision Care Eye Camp.

"Similar to last year, the aim of the camp would be ophthalmic medical examination and cataract surgery.

Mr Choi urged people with sight problems to take advantage of the camp and have their vision checked.

As an official partner of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, Vision Care Service which started its first eye camp in 2002 as a one time mission trip with voluntary team of eye experts and volunteers from the Myungdon St Mary's Eye Clinic, in Soeul, Korea, has grown into a non-profit organisation serving over 20 countries in greater parts of Asia, and Africa.

Dr Lee Seok, an ophtamologist on the team, in an interview with the prevent it from becoming serious.

He said the aging process, exposure of the eye to sunlight and trauma on the eye could trigger cataract.

Symptoms include bleary and teary eyes. Dr Seok, commended the patients for their patience, and said it was a motivating factor to team. He called for regular eye check ups

Ex WO Class One Francis Amankwa, a patient expressed appreciation to the team for the exercise.

He described as God-sent since many people could not afford the cost of eye surgery, and urged people with eye problems to take advantage of the camp to have their eyes screened.