In celebration of World Sight Day 2024, Bliss Eye Care, a private eye clinic located in Wa, offered free eye screening services to children in the Jirapa Municipality of the Upper West Region on Thursday, October 10.
A total of 1,468 children underwent eye screenings during the event. Out of these, 205 were found to have normal vision, while the remaining 1,182 showed signs of sight issues requiring medical attention. Among them, 46 children were diagnosed with refractive errors and provided with eyeglasses free of charge. Additionally, 35 children were identified with more serious conditions such as cataracts and glaucoma.
Dr. Zakaria Al-hassan Balure, an optometrist and Medical Superintendent of Bliss Eye Care, highlighted the need for parents to prioritize eye health for their children. “It’s good to see more parents taking children’s eye health seriously, but there is still room for improvement. Education is important, but ensuring that children can actually see properly is essential for their learning,” he noted.
Visual impairments have a significant impact on an individual’s physical, emotional, social, and economic well-being. In Ghana, data reveals that around 300,000 people are blind, and another 332,000 suffer from severe visual impairment.
According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), over 1.3 billion people globally experience vision impairment related to their work, with an estimated 350 eye injuries occurring in workplaces each year.
Crucially, 90% of blindness cases can be avoided or treated if detected early. A 2023 report from the Ghana Eye Health Summit indicated that the leading causes of blindness in Ghana include cataracts (54.5%), glaucoma (19.4%), posterior segment diseases like diabetic retinopathy (12.9%), and corneal conditions (11.2%).
SOURCE: http://dew360.net
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