Glaucoma, predominant among children- Wood

Tema, June 7, GNA- Glaucoma, a ailment of the eye, which normally affected adults aged 40 and above was now predominant among children, Mr George Wood, a Programme Officer, Christian Eye Centre said on Friday. He said an ongoing research by the centre on 6,000 persons revealed that children at the age of 16 were having advanced glaucoma. He made this known when Mr Bob Godwin, Chief Executive Officer, International Aid, USA, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), visited the centre in Tema, as part of a familiarisation tour of International Aid projects in the country.

Mr Wood asked people to go for regular eye check-ups for early detection of eye problems and that glaucoma if not treated could lead to blindness.

On activities carried out by the centre, Mr Wood mention outreach programmes in communities in some selected regions in the country, especially in schools adding that it would soon mount satellite clinics to improve its services to the public. He said one of the objectives of the centre was to provide sustainable and affordable care to the people as well as offer excellent services.

Mr Wood said "We hope to become of the referral centres in the country."

Mr Godwin said the health of people was of paramount importance to the NGO hence its support for the centre. He urged the pubic to under take regular checks on their eyes since the eye was the light of the body.

Glaucoma is the lost of vision caused by elevated pressure within the eye and it is associated with old age, high blood pressure, family history, diabetics, eye injury, and nearsightedness. Symptoms include severe eye pain, headaches, nausea, and vomiting and blurred visions.