Hundreds of Embu residents have benefitted from a free eye medical camp organised by Lions Club Embu in conjunction with Rotary Club.
The one-day camp held on Saturday at Lion School in Embu Town saw patients screened for various eyesight problems such as cataracts, refractive errors, photosensitivity and age-related problems.
Ophthalmic Clinical Officer Lilian Nyaga said some of the cases they noted among the ageing group were diabetic retinopathy, macular holes and some suspicious growths that they referred for specialised treatment.
Among the young people, the officer said the most prevalent cases were refractive errors, allergies and photosensitivity as a result of overuse of digital gadgets.
She advised young people to minimise the amount of time they spend on these gadgets and also use them at a distance from the eyes to protect their eyes from harmful UltraViolet (UV) radiation.
“It is also good that they make use of photochromic glasses that are designed to protect the eyes from these harmful rays,” she said.
For those who require cataract surgery, the officer said they are consolidating the list of the cases so that they will be attended to in due course.
She also called on residents to observe a healthy and balanced diet rich in vitamin A in order to keep their eyesight in good shape.
During the camp, those with reading problems were provided with glasses for free or eye drops for those with minor ailments such as allergies or infections.
Beneficiaries termed the opportunity as life-changing, as it has helped improve their vision without incurring the heavy financial burden such procedures entail.
“I had a problem with blurry vision where I could not see far objects clearly but today I am happy I have been treated and given glasses to correct that,” said patient Richer Ireri.
Lions Club Embu President Chandrakant Patel said it is an annual event that they hold as a way of giving back to the society.
By Samuel Waititu
