An optometrist has raised alarm over the increasing cases of vision impairment among elderly residents in the Asutifi North District of the Ahafo Region, identifying presbyopia and cataracts as the most common eye conditions.
The concern emerged during a free medical screening organised by the Member of Parliament for the area, Dr. Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, at Womahinso. Speaking to Adom News, Dr. Joel Kyeremeh, the optometrist at the Asutifi North District Hospital, revealed that records from screenings and hospital visits show many aged residents urgently need medicated spectacles to prevent further loss of sight.
Dr. Kyeremeh explained that presbyopia, a condition linked to ageing, is widespread among the elderly in the district. He also noted that cataracts remain a major eye disease affecting many residents and require urgent medical attention.
He expressed concern that, due to financial constraints, some elderly individuals resort to buying unprescribed glasses from roadside vendors or using herbal medicines without medical consultation — practices he described as dangerous and potentially harmful to their eyesight.
Meanwhile, the Public Health Nurse at Gyedu Health Centre, Emmanuel Adu Gyamfi, told Adom News that hypertension and diabetes continue to be major health challenges in the area. He urged residents to take these conditions seriously and to visit health facilities regularly for check-ups.
According to Mr. Gyamfi, many patients with high blood pressure and diabetes fail to attend routine medical reviews, even while continuing prescribed medication, a situation he warned could lead to serious health complications.
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