Chronicle Editor
Amos Mpofu, [email protected]
REGULAR eye check-ups, at least once a year, are crucial for preserving vision, as conditions like cataracts and generational glaucoma can lead to irreversible sight loss, warns Mr Alick Phiri, eye care co-ordinator at the Council of the Blind.
Mr Phiri said this during the “World Sight Day” commemoration at the City Centre Church of Christ in Bulawayo on Sunday.
The event brought together congregants, individuals living with visual impairments and officials from the Zimbabwe Council for the Blind.
The event began with a Holy Communion service followed by the preaching of the word, during which congregants were blindfolded to foster a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by those who are blind.
This experiential activity aimed to enhance empathy and appreciation for the visual impairment community.
It proceeded with discussions on the importance of vision health and support for individuals with visual impairments, highlighting the church’s commitment to inclusivity and awareness, ending with free eye tests conducted by personnel from the Council for the Blind
In an interview, Mr Phiri urged the public to prioritise regular eye check-ups to receive assistance for potentially sight-threatening conditions like cataracts and glaucoma.
“The church did well by observing World Sight Day and inviting us to share the challenges we face with our eyesight and the solutions to preserve our eyes in response to the World Sight Day commemorations,” he said.
“Many people believe they can see without even undergoing and passing a proper eye test, which is essential to truly assess one’s vision. “It’s important to recognise that the way we see is not necessarily how others see, and there may be better vision standards out there. This highlights the need for regular eye check-ups, especially for issues like cataracts and glaucoma.”
Mr Phiri provided a detailed explanation of the effects of cataracts and glaucoma.
“It’s funny that a person can live with cataracts for up to 15 years, experiencing cloudy vision, but cataract extraction takes only about 15 minutes and can fully restore sight,” he said.
“However, the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide is glaucoma, which causes progressive, painless vision loss and can follow the bloodline.
“Glaucoma can only be detected through an eye check-up and doctors can only preserve the remaining percentage of sight in affected individuals. For instance, if someone has 30 percent of their vision left due to glaucoma, the doctor can only maintain that remaining sight.”
Mr Phiri applauded the Church of Christ for recognising World Sight Day, saying they did well by creating a space for teaching and sharing the challenges faced by those living with blindness.
Pastor Robson Rogers, serving at City Centre Church of Christ, said the church’s observance of the World Sight Day highlights its commitment to inclusivity and support for individuals living with disabilities.
“We felt it is our responsibility as Christians to care for those living with disabilities. From observing this day, we didn’t only gain spiritual upliftment, but we also gained some valuable knowledge on eye care from the experts from the Council for the Blind,” he said.
“Many of us are now considering regularising to get eye tests. We have individuals with visual impairments in our church who participate fully in all activities and we accommodate them, as this observance is just as important as any other program we conduct.”
Online Reporter