Campaign to create eye-health awareness
World Glaucoma Week was commemorated last week with an awareness campaign.
The West Rand District Health Services in collaboration with Refilwe Bophelo, Alcon and other local non-government organisations recently commemorated World Glaucoma Week with an awareness campaign.
Sandile Gwayi, principal communication officer said the purpose of the campaign was to educate the community and to create awareness about glaucoma, an eye disease caused by increased pressure within the eye.
This increased pressure damages the optic nerve at the back of the eye.
Virginia Mawela, the Provincial Coordinator for the eye-care programme in the Gauteng Province said it could develop in any person irrespective of age and if not detected early, it can result in blindness.
Last week 246 people in the Kromdraai and Lanseria areas were screened for this condition. At least 84 people were found to have signs for the condition and were referred to Leratong Hospital and other local clinics for further treatment.
“In order to improve eye-care services at district level, the district recently has employed three permanent optometrists,” Lydia Matolo said.
She said the district has trained four eye-care nurses who work with the optometrists at the facilities.
“Eye problems now will be detected early to prevent blindness,” she concluded.
