Public advised to seek early treatment for refractive errors

People with eye problems have been advised to seek early treatment at eye clinics to help identify refractive errors which are the leading cause of visual impairment worldwide.

The National President of the Ghana Optometric Association (GOA), Professor Samuel Bert Boadi-Kusi said, for instance, patients below 40 years should visit an optometrist at least twice a year, while those above 40 years should do so once a year.

The GOA national president explained that such visits would help to properly treat refractive errors in patients to avoid any eye problems.

AGM

Prof. Boadi-Kusi gave the advice when he addressed the 12th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and scientific sessions of the association in Koforidua last Friday.

The event, on the theme: "Artificial Intelligence in Optometric Practice: Embracing the New Era in Clinical Practice," was attended by optometrists across the country.

It was to examine the previous year's activities and identify the challenges with the view of addressing them and plan for the year ahead.
New members were also inducted into the association.

Refractive error

The national president explained that a person could be having serious eye problems if he or she could not see objects that were close or from a distance properly and was also seeing blurred images. Such persons, he said, needed to immediately present themselves for eye checks.

Prof. Boadi-Kusi emphasised that the seriousness of the situation compelled the World Health Organisation (WHO) to place refractive error in its Vision 2030 to improve visual impairments by 40 per cent.

"The prevalence of refractive error across the world, including Ghana, is very high and is one of the main causes of visual impairments, so it is advisable for those who cannot see from afar, near or having blurred vision to immediately visit optometrists for early treatment,” he emphasised.

Artificial Intelligence

Prof. Boadi-Kusi told the association members that the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare, especially in optometric practice, had improved the treatment of eye care, particularly in the area of history recording of patients, examination, diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases.

He indicated that in view of that, optometrists in Ghana needed to catch up with the rest of the world by getting prepared to embrace AI in their practice.

With regard to the future plan of the association, Prof. Boadi-Kusi said a West Africa College of Optometrists and Ghana College of Optometrists would be established and that the association was collaborating with its partners in that respect.

That, he stated, would make it possible for the training of specialist and consultant optometrists in the country.

The Eastern Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Winfred Ofosu, said since technology had advanced with the application of AI, optometrists should embrace it to remain relevant in the profession.

Writer's email: haruna.wunpini@graphic.com.gh