Accra:More than half of the blindness cases in Ghana are attributed to cataracts, according to the Ghana Health Service (GHS). Dr. Hornametor Afake, the Head of the Eye Care Unit at GHS, revealed that cataracts account for approximately 140,000 cases, representing 54.8% of the nearly 254,000 individuals who are completely blind in the country.
According to Ghana Web, Dr. Afake emphasized the need for early detection and treatment to prevent blindness caused by cataracts, which can be reversed through surgery. He spoke at the World Sight Day event, themed 'Love Your Eyes', aiming to encourage prioritization of eye health.
In Ghana, World Sight Day was observed under the theme 'Eye Care for All Integrating Vision into Primary Health Care'. Dr. Afake noted that glaucoma and diseases affecting the back of the eye also significantly contribute to blindness in Ghana, alongside cataracts, cornea opacity, and other causes.
The unequal distribution of eye care professionals remains a challenge, with over 70% of Ghana’s ophthalmologists, optometrists, ophthalmic nurses, and opticians concentrated in the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions. This leaves four regions without a resident ophthalmologist, limiting access to specialist care.
Dr. Afake urged Ghanaians to undergo regular eye examinations to detect and treat eye conditions early, thus preventing severe and irreversible vision loss. Cataracts can cause blurred vision and potentially lead to blindness if untreated, but they are treatable through surgery.
World Sight Day is a global event highlighting vision impairment and blindness, encouraging actions to protect eye health.