Homa Bay residents urged to go for regular eye checkups

Hundreds of Homa Bay residents with various eye problems benefited from a two-week free medical camp organized by a Sweden-based organization.

The Vision For All (VFA) organization through a team of seven optomologists pitched a tent at Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital where they undertook eye screening and treatment for more than 800 residents. 

The medics led by Lars Ekstrom said the majority of elderly patients were found with cataracts and glaucoma which affect their visualization.

He said they are focusing on screening, treatment and provision of reading glasses for the affected patients who turned out for assistance.

The exercise was undertaken in collaboration with the Homa Bay government.

“I urge residents especially people who have reached 60 years to periodically go for eye checkups. This will enable them to have early detection and operation of cataracts before they mature,” Ekstrom said.

Speaking during the exercise on Friday, Ekstrom urged parents to avoid exposing their children to too much sunlight as this also interfere with their eyesight.

Playing on dusty ground and washing face with dirty water among others were found to be contributing much to eye disorders among the children.

“We advise everybody to take care of their eyes by using clean water all the time. They should also avoid substances that cause eye allergies,” he added.

An eye medic at the hospital Francis Ochieng said they screened many residents and conducted surgical operations on more than 30 patients who had serious eye complications.

He encouraged the residents to visit health facilities for regular eye checkups so that they could get treatment as early as possible to avoid further eye complications.

The medic called on the people with diabetes and hypertension diseases to go for regular checkups.

Stone mining people and welders were also urged to go for regular eye checkups.

“Let residents with red, itching eyeballs and frequent tears go to the eye hospital for checkups and appropriate advice. Here spectacles were provided to assist patients with various eye conditions,” Ochieng said.   

Beneficiaries Vitalis Okello and Effie Onura said they were given glasses to assist them in vision.

“I wasn’t able to read books with small writings such as the bible but I am able now because I have been given appropriate spectacle,” he said.

Onura said many are suffering from eye problems because they lack money for treatment.

“The eye medical camp has come at the right time. I urge the county government to organize such camps to help more people,” she said.