More than 190,000 Ghanaians are blind, the acting Head of the Eye Care Unit of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr James Addy, has disclosed.
According to him, four out of five of the cases become blind from preventable causes.
At a media forum to mark this year’s World Sight Day in Accra yesterday, he said a survey conducted by the GHS revealed that eye-related diseases were on the rise.
He stressed that most eye-related diseases, including cataract and glaucoma, could easily be prevented by seeking early medical attention.
Dr Addy indicated, however, that glaucoma was difficult to treat once it reached an advanced stage.
Regular screening
Dr Addy advised the public to regularly check their eyes for early detection of any defects.
He said since the eye was an important organ of the human body, people must make an effort to protect it.
Dr Addy also warned the public to avoid smoking, self-medication and exposing the eye to direct sun rays because those practices could be detrimental to their vision.
Touching on people with various eye diseases, Dr Addy said about 95 per cent of Ghanaians "who must use spectacles to correct their vision do not do so".
He mentioned traditional beliefs and superstition as some of the reasons why people with various forms of eye diseases refuse to use spectacles.
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