Diseases We Treat

Cataract:
Cataract is the clouding of the lens of the eye, which stops the passage of light through the lens to the retina, and ultimately prevents an image being “seen” by the brain. Most cases of cataract are related to ageing, but children can also be born with the condition. A cataract may also develop after injuries and inflammation.

Cataract is the leading cause of blindness in the world. The latest estimates for the prevalence of cataract are that 18 million people suffer from the condition, which represents 48% of the total number of blind people.

The mainstay of cataract treatment is an operative procedure. The majority of individuals who suffer from this condition have limited access to surgical treatment – due to cost, lack of health facilities, lack of health professionals, or transportation difficulties. There are no comprehensive prevention methods for cataract.

Strabismus
Strabismus, or squint, is a condition characterized by the inability to align both eyes simultaneously. Both children and adults can be affected. Strabismus can lead to double vision or the suppression of one eye.

Over 5% of children worldwide are affected by strabismus. Early detection and treatment is essential because the longer suppression has been in effect, the more difficult it will be to re-establish normal binocular vision. Treatments include vision therapy, orthoptics, or surgery.

Corneal opacities
A variety of infectious and inflammatory eye diseases cause scarring of the cornea, the clear membrane the covers the outer most part of the eye. Significant scarring can lead to blindness. Trachoma, onchoceriasis (river blindness), trauma, and corneal ulcerations are some of the causes that lead to corneal opacities.

Corneal opacities are the fourth leading cause of blindness worldwide, and is responsible for the blindness of 4.9 million people.

There are a range of prevention programs that reduce the causes of corneal opacities, including the elimination of trachoma and onchoceriasis. The only method of curing corneal opacities is surgery, and the majority of blind people affected by diseases of the cornea have limited access to surgical care.