GARDEN ROUTE | KAROO NEWS - Cataract is still the leading cause of blindness in South Africa, despite it being one of the most cost-effective procedures.
In South Africa, it has been estimated that more than 250 000 people are blind due to cataracts and 40-60% of those who are visually impaired experience vision loss as a direct result of cataracts.
According to the World Health Organisation (Who), there are 2,2 billion people worldwide with visual impairment, of which at least 1 billion people have visual challenges that could have been prevented or are yet to be addressed.
The Ophthalmological Society of South Africa (Ossa) Right to Sight Trust, is working towards the reduction of cataract blindness in the country.
This year they will give the gift of sight to about 500 financially needy patients who are either partially sighted or blind due to untreated cataracts.
The campaign involves ophthalmologists giving their time and skill, private hospitals donating facilities and funding partners and sponsors providing access to intraocular lenses and consumables for cataract surgery.
Chairperson of Right to Sight Dr Bayanda Mbambisa says over the past eight years, 3 672 free cataract surgeries have been performed under the Right to Sight banner.
“This equates to over R99m worth of services for surgeries that prevent blindness and restore hope and dignity to needy patients. Based on a conservative estimate that one cataract sufferer impacts the lives of six people, over 22 000 people have benefited indirectly.
"Family members are freed from the enormous responsibility of providing care and can resume their own educational, employment, and recreational activities – all of which impact the economic and social health of families and communities,” she said.
“The surgery is life-changing yet many public hospitals do not have ophthalmologists and consumables, or are understaffed due to posts not being funded. This, coupled with the high incidence of cataracts in South Africa, has resulted in a severe backlog of patients requiring surgery – with many people remaining on a waiting list for well over a year.”
She explains that cataract is when proteins in your eye’s natural lens break down, causing the lens to become cloudy and vision to turn blurry, hazy and less colourful.
The signs of cataract are:
• Having blurry or clouded vision as if looking through a dirty window
• Trouble seeing at night
• Seeing halos around lights
• Sensitivity to light and glare
• Seeing double or a ghosted image
• Double vision
• Requiring brighter light for reading
• Having trouble seeing well at night
• Seeing bright colours as faded or yellow
Mbambisa says over time, cataracts can lead to vision loss.
“Age is the most common cause of cataracts due to the normal eye changes experienced after the age of 40. Although vision loss in most age-related cataracts develops gradually, others can be accelerated, such as those found in younger people or those diagnosed with diabetes.”
“The most significant contributing factors for cataracts include smoking, eye injuries or surgery, and long-term exposure to sun without UV sunglasses. Regardless of the type of cataract you have, you will need surgery to treat it.”
Take care of your eye health by:
• Having an annual eye exam if you are older than 65, or every two years if younger
• Protecting your eyes from UV light by wearing a hat and sunglasses that block at least 99% UV
• Quitting smoking
• Making eye-healthy food choices by eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, nuts and whole grains
• Using brighter lights or a magnifying glass for reading
• Limiting driving at night once night vision, halos or glare becomes a problem
• Managing other health problems such as diabetes
• Immediately visiting an eye care specialist if you experience vision loss
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