News

Sight for many sore eyes - 04 November 2009

More than 200 Ghanaians have had their sight restored thanks to a charity mission organised by a nurse from the Western Eye Hospital.

Ghanaian-born Cathy Asante (pictured bottom left with the Touch of Light team in Ghana) was inspired to set up a charity to help alleviate the problem of cataracts, which is responsible for half of all cases of preventable blindness in the African country where there is only one ophthalmologist to every 400,000 people.

Cathy, who is a sister in A&E, flew to Ghana with colleagues from Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust to surgically remove cataracts of patients who were almost blinded by the condition.

“I was having sleepless nights thinking about what I could do to help,” said Cathy.

“I spoke to my colleagues about whether they could fund themselves to come with me to Ghana. Everyone was really enthusiastic and supportive so I set up an official charity called Touch of Light to make our vision become a reality.”

Imperial College Healthcare’s Mr Ali Mearza, consultant ophthalmic surgeon, led the team travelling to Ghana, which also comprised specialists from other trusts across the UK.

In collaboration with local staff, the UK team operated on 202 patients in the Ho Regional Hospital. The hospital is about three hours drive from the capital where the closest ophthalmologist works.
 
“To be able to save the sight of so many people was a wonderfully rewarding experience. It will not just make a difference to the patients themselves but also to their families who would have acted as carers and blind guides.

“We also transferred surgical and nursing skills to the local staff so our trip should have a lasting impact on the region. I cannot thank everyone enough who joined me on the trip and I hope it was the first of many.”

Cathy extended her thanks to the trips donors and sponsors.

Notes to editors

  • A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye which can lead to blindness if left untreated
  • In the UK, about a third of people aged over 65 have cataracts in one or both eyes
  • Cataracts can usually be treated with a routine day case operation where the cloudy lens is removed and replaced with an artificial plastic lens

ENDS
For further information please contact, Cassie Zachariou, communications manager, on 020 3312 2200 or email cassie.zachariou@imperial.nhs.uk.