An Ophthalmologist at the St Thomas Eye Clinic and Nyaho Hospital has revealed that glaucoma accounts for 20 per cent of blind cases in the country.

Dr Michael Gyasi speaking about the eye on the last episode of Healthline Season 8, said the condition is preventable.

He added that frequent eye check-ups could help avoid the condition, which is also the second leading cause of blindness worldwide.

Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, the health of which is vital for good vision. This damage is often caused by abnormally high pressure in your eye. 

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness for people over the age of 60.

Explaining further the causes of the condition, Dr Gyasi said, “The pressure in the eye is due to a build-up of fluid that flows through the eye and drains. When the fluid is overproduced or the drainage system is damaged, the fluid is not able to flow out at its normal rate and eye pressure increases.

“Early detection of the condition is critical to preventing it. We prevent it by reducing the amount of fluid or increasing the way it drains from the eye.’’

Vodafone Ghana, through its Healthline programme, has supported and transformed the lives of hundreds of Ghanaians who have undergone various surgeries for life-threatening conditions including hydrocephalus, cataract, hernia, fibroids and heart-related problems.

It has also educated and demystified various myths on health-related conditions. 

In 2011, Vodafone Ghana in collaboration with Sightsavers and the Ghana Health Service restored the sight of 2,500 visually impaired people suffering from cataract and trachoma across Ghana, as part of its support for World Sight Day.