– free eye testing to be conducted

GUYANA will join the rest of the world to celebrate World Sight Day on October 10, 2019 and as part of the commemorative efforts for the occasion, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) will be rolling out a plethora of activities.

According to GPHC’s Ophthalmology Department, the hospital will be conducting free eye tests at its eye clinic from 10:00hrs to 14:00hrs on World Sight Day.

Patients will have free access to the clinic and can get their eyes tested for Glaucoma, Cataract, Refractive Errors, Diabetic Retinopathy and other eye diseases. The Diabetic Retinopathy Centre will also be open on that day.

Through collaboration with the World Diabetes Foundation and Orbis International, the Diabetic Eye Centre was established to allow persons with diabetes to undergo free screening and tests to detect early diabetic eye disease (diabetic retinopathy) before it causes permanent blindness.

The screening on World Sight Day will be done by the staff of the Department of Ophthalmology including ophthalmologists, optometrists, doctors and nurses of the GPHC’s eye clinic. Screening will also be done at the Vision Centre, located in the GPHC Compound.
In addition, GPHC will also be conducting free eye tests at the Mattai’s Supermarket on Water Street from 10:00hrs to 14:00hrs on Thursday.

A booth and screening area will be set up at the entrance of the supermarket where members of the public will have free access to have their eyes tested for glaucoma, cataract, refractive errors, diabetic retinopathy and other eye diseases. Staff of GPHC will be present to do vision testing and eye pressure testing.

Local optometrists and optical shops are also expected to be involved in eye screening activities at various locations in Georgetown. GPHC is also planning to collaborate with Lions Club to conduct a free vision screening exercise. The University of Guyana (UG)’s School of Optometry will also conduct various activities on campus.

GPHC will also be hosting a World Sight Day Ophthalmic CME Session in commemoration of World Sight Day for eyecare professionals and physicians.

CME sessions are educational activities where lectures are given on various eye diseases to update physicians in practice. This year, GPHC is collaborating with Da Silva’s Optical, Modern Optical Service, Optique Vision Care and Orbis International to sponsor this event.
The session will be held on the evening of World Sight Day from 18:00hrs to 20:00hrs at Duke Lodge, Kingston.

GPHC Optometry interns will be conducting a Public Awareness Campaign of visiting various public establishments in Georgetown to distribute posters on glaucoma and diabetic eye health.

As far as sensitisation goes, the GPHC administration has also been working on constructing a billboard to encourage persons with diabetes to check their eyes for diabetic retinopathy. Early screening prevents blindness. Laser treatment for diabetic retinopathy is now available for free at GPHC and patients can prevent blindness by undergoing early screening.

In an effort to reach and sensitise more people, GPHC’s ophthalmologist and optometrist will be on the weekly Kaietuer Radio Programme on October 7, 2019 at 13:00hrs to discuss eye health and World Sight Day activities.

For the past six years, the GPHC’s Department of Ophthalmology has been spearheading World Sight Day activities in Guyana with various activities being done over the years to promote vision health education and awareness.
World Sight Day is an international day of awareness, held annually on the second Thursday of October to focus attention on the global issue of eye health. This year, the theme is ‘Vision First – a call to nations to ensure that everyone has access to affordable eyecare.’

World Sight Day is co-ordinated by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB). It became an official IAPB event in the year 2000, and has been observed in many different ways in countries around the world.

It is a focal advocacy and public relations event for IAPB and its members and partners each year, highlighting the fact that 75 per cent of blindness is avoidable (i.e. preventable and/or treatable).

Three out of four people have avoidable visual impairment and World Sight Day provides a platform for organisations to encourage governments, corporations, institutions and individuals to actively support global blindness prevention efforts.