The general public is encouraged to focus far more on their eyes.

Nurses have identified Pterygium and Allergy as common eye disorders in some villages within the Ho Municipality, and as a result, the public has received an important eye health alert.

The Ho Teaching Hospital Eye Clinic’s nurses have expressed concern about the increased prevalence of Pterygium and Allergy eye problems and have advised the public to prioritize eye care to avert potential harm.

This information was discovered following the first phase of the community and school eye care programs, which were run by the non-governmental organization Care and Concern Action Group, in collaboration with the Ho Teaching Hospital Eye Clinic, and funded by the German non-governmental organization Deutsche Katholisches Blindenwerk (DKBW). The program’s goal was to offer the population free eye care services.

Phase 1 benefited Five Hundred and Ten (510) people, including schoolchildren, by providing free eye exams and prescription drugs to residents of three rural communities: Kpenoe, Hordzoga, and Klefe.

Following the exercise in Klefe on March 26, 2024, the nursing team conducted an interview whereby they noted a noteworthy incidence of Pterygium among women residing in the neighborhood. Pterygium, which is frequently linked to environmental variables such as UV radiation exposure, and extended exposure to windy, dry weather, and dusty settings, can cause irreversible blindness in severe cases if treatment is not received.

The Ho Teaching Hospital Eye Clinic’s team head, Madam Judith Donkor, revealed the names of several eye diseases, including as glaucoma, cataracts, allergic conjunctivitis, presbyopia, and refractive errors. She noted that the main causes of these problems, which include blurred vision, eye pain, redness, tearing, sensations of a foreign body, and itching, are aging, genetics, and the size of the eyes.

The Care and Concern Action Group’s (CCAG) Project Coordinator, Mr. Godsway Kartey, urged recipients to follow preventive measures. He demanded more financing for community initiatives, particularly those that assist vulnerable populations in rural areas. He also pleaded with funders to keep up the support to spread knowledge about common eye disorders and any difficulties they may have, especially for women and children.

Following exams, recipients were given free medication and eyewear; those with serious diagnoses were directed to the Ho Teaching Hospital for additional assessment and care.

To protect their eye health, the public has been encouraged to protect their eyes from direct sunlight and to have frequent examinations and checkups at hospitals.