Cataract remains the overwhelming leading cause of blindness in Ghana, currently affecting 165,000 Ghanaians, which accounts for more than half of the country's total blind population of 250,000.

According to a graphiconline.com report on October 10, 2025, this revelation was made by Dr Hornametor Afake, Head of the National Eye Care Unit of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), at the media launch of this year's World Sight Day in Accra on October 9, 2025.

The Day was observed under the theme: “Increasing access to quality eye care in Ghana.”

600,000 Ghanaians have Glaucoma

Unfortunately, Dr Afake highlighted a critical inability to address the surgical needs of the population:
• Surgical Deficit: Ghana performs less than 30,000 cataract surgeries annually, resulting in a current surgical coverage of only 18 per cent. This means that for every 100 people who need cataract surgery, only 18 receive it.
• Ideal Target: To effectively clear the existing backlog of cases within three years, the country needs to perform approximately 68,000 surgeries each year.
• Glaucoma Threat: Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness, responsible for blinding 60,000 people (19.4 per cent).
The challenges are compounded by severe resource and distribution issues.

According to Dr Afake, there is a serious inadequacy of human resources for eye health.

Zero Ophthalmologists in Six Regions
Despite having 141 ophthalmologists, 570 optometrists, 900 ophthalmic nurses, and 800 opticians nationwide, the distribution is "uneven," with rural areas facing critical shortages.

Dr Afake pointed out a major equity gap: six regions—Western North, Savannah, North East, Upper West, Upper East, and Oti—have zero practicing ophthalmologists.

He mentioned other barriers to access include; financial constraints, low public awareness - leading to late presentation of conditions like glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy and inadequate funding for eye health programmes.

Dr Kennedy Britson, Director of the Family Health Division of the GHS, urged the public to prioritise eye health and seek professional help immediately if they experience vision problems.

"Don't try and pick somebody's glasses and try them on. Your problem may be different," he advised.

World Sight Day: Cataract, leading cause of blindness in Ghana

Dr Dzifa Ofori-Adjei, the immediate past president of the Ophthalmological Society of Ghana, called on the government to invest in eye health infrastructure, ensure the equitable distribution of human resources, and pass key legislation supporting organ and tissue regulation.

In response, Dr Hafez Adam Taher, Director of Technical Coordination at the Ministry of Health, reaffirmed the ministry's commitment to improving access to quality care, stating that eye health remains a "vital component of its broader national health agenda."

MRA/VPO

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