World Sight Day 12 October 2024 - Donate to give the gift of sight
Cataracts remain the leading cause of blindness globally, despite being completely preventable. In South Africa, an estimated 250,000 people are blind due to untreated cataracts.
Even though cataract surgery is one of the most cost-effective medical interventions, between 40-60% of those suffering from visual impairment experience vision loss directly due to cataracts with a detrimental effect on the overall social, psychological and financial well-being of individuals and their family members.
According to Dr Bayanda Mbambisa, Chairperson of the Right to Sight Trust, the non-profit initiative of the Ophthalmological Society of South Africa (OSSA), although cataracts develop gradually after the age of 40 due to normal eye changes experienced, accelerated vision loss is found in younger patients or those diagnosed with diabetes.
She says in South Africa access to care remains a major challenge for patients due to many public hospitals that lack ophthalmologists, necessary equipment, or even the consumables required for surgery resulting in an ever-growing backlog of patients with some waiting more than a year for surgery.
To combat this preventable cause of blindness and to offer the precious gift of sight to those in need, the OSSA Right to Sight Trust will perform more than 1,000 free cataract surgeries throughout the year with just over 700 conducted in the month of October as part of its commitment to World Sight Day 2024,
109 ophthalmologists in private practice across the country have generously donated their skills and time to assist financially disadvantaged patients who are either partially sighted or blind due to untreated cataracts. Their efforts are supported by 35 private hospitals that provide free theatre time and essential services. Funding partners, individual donors, and medical device companies contribute lenses and surgical consumables to make these surgeries possible. Members of the public and organisations can contribute their financial contribution in supporting their efforts in giving sight to many in need.
Over the past nine years, the OSSA Right to Sight Trust has successfully performed 4,446 free cataract surgeries, equating to more than R124 million worth of medical services dedicated to preventing avoidable blindness.
"Our mission is to restore not only sight but also hope and dignity to patients. Based on a conservative estimate, for every individual impacted by cataract surgery, six other people in their household are positively affected. This means that over 26,000 people have indirectly benefited from our work," Dr Mbambisa explained.
She says the positive ripple effect is undeniable. “Families, who previously had to provide constant care, are freed from this burden, allowing them to resume educational, employment, and social activities. These changes contribute to greater economic and social stability within communities.”
Dr Mbambisa says cataracts occur when proteins in the eye’s natural lens break down, causing the lens to become cloudy, resulting in blurred, hazy vision and diminished colour perception. Over time, cataracts can lead to complete vision loss if left untreated.
“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.”
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 instead
Dr Mbambisa urges everyone to take care of their eye health by:
Having an annual eye exam for those older than 65, or every two years if younger.
Protecting their eyes from UV light by wearing a hat and sunglasses that block at least 99 percent UV.
Quitting smoking
Making eye-healthy food choices but eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, nuts, and whole grains.
Using brighter lights for reading or a magnifying glass
Limiting driving at night once night vision, halos or glare becomes a problem
Managing other health problems such as diabetes
Immediately visit an eye care specialist if vision loss impacts one’s regular activities.
Visit www.righttosight.org to support the Trust in reaching more patients during Eye Care Awareness Month in October.