Tema, March 19, GNA - About 70 residents in the Tema metropolis on Thursday received free eye screening under a one week outreach programme to sensitize residents on eye diseases. Most of those screened were diagnosed with glaucoma, cataract and refraction disorders and were referred to eye centres for treatment. The exercise, being carried out by the New Vision Optical and Eye Care Centre, a non-governmental organization in Tema, was aimed at bringing optical services to the door step of the less privileged in the metropolis.

Dr Daniel Gbetademe, Managing Director of the eye care centre, told the Ghana News Agency that about 1,000 people would be screened by the end of the exercise. Dr Gbetademe advised the public to have periodic eye check-up for early treatment as more people are contracting eye diseases ignorantly. He said people aged 40 and above stand the danger of contracting many eye diseases including Hyperopia which is a defect in seeing from either close or far range which normally affect their reading ability. The optometrist also appealed to the public to desist from buying medicated spectacles from the roadside as that could compound their eye problems. 19 March 09