More than 500 benefit from free eye screening

In excess of 500 people have benefitted from a free eye screening exercise organized by the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), the nation’s second largest facility.

This was done in partnership with Orbis Africa, an NGO, and coincided with the celebration of the world sight day.

The event is held annually to create awareness and encourage people to report to the hospital with eye diseases.

Dr. Seth Lartey, Head of KATH’s Eye Unit, indicated that about 190,000 Ghanaians had eye problems.

He identified cataract as the commonest eye case, affecting about 43 percent of the patients with the number of cases of glaucoma also high.

He noted that a total of about 104,000 patients suffering from various eye diseases needed surgery but complained of inadequate eye doctors - there were only 97 of them.

Dr. Lartey, an eye surgeon, said 80 per cent of blindness could be prevented, if reported early to the facilities.

He recommended to those aged 40 years and above, to visit the eye clinic every two years.

Mrs. Anowuo Nsiah Ababio, Ghana Program’s Manager of Orbis-Africa, said her organization would continue to collaborate with healthcare providers to prevent people from going blind.