Wisconsin marks World Sight Day with free eye screening
Wisconsin marks World Sight Day with free eye screening
Former Wisconsin Marketing student Rebecca Amenu has organised a three-day free eye screening programme to mark World Sight Day. The screening, which took place from 11-13 October 2018, was conducted by medical volunteers with support from students from Wisconsin’s School of Nursing.
The event, organised by Rebecca who is also the CEO of Becks Optical Services, in partnership with Wisconsin International University College, Ghana (WIUC-GH) was held on the forecourt of the Nursing skills laboratory at Wisconsin’s Main Campus.
The eye screening exercise was preceded by a ceremony intended to raise awareness of various eye defects, with emphasis on glaucoma.
Glaucoma occurs as a result of damage to the optic nerve that carries information from the eye to the brain.
Speaking on the theme, ‘Beat invisible glaucoma to save sight’, Wisconsin’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Obeng Mireku said: “(World Sight Day) is an opportune time to bring eye-related health conditions to the fore and to create the much-needed awareness that could lead to prevention of sight loss.”
He added: “As with all health conditions, early detection increases the chances of avoiding those sad words: ‘It is too late – there is nothing we can do now’.”
Prof. Mireku commended Rebecca for putting together such a laudable programme and for demonstrating her social entrepreneurial skills.
Madam Doris Mantey, a member of the public who benefited from the screening, said she was happy that Wisconsin had the community at heart as going for eye screening at a hospital was expensive.
The medical staff took scores of participants through various eye tests and recommended treatment or referred those who needed further diagnostics.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 27 out of every 1,000 people in Ghana have visual impairment and 9 out every 1,000 people are blind.
The major causes of these are cataracts, glaucoma and uncorrected refractive error, where the eye is unable to properly focus images on the retina.
