Eyeworld

131 EW INTERNATIONAL February 2018 Editors' note: Dr. Kretz has no financial interests related to his comments. Contact information Kretz: m.fedder@augenklinik.de operations, with good postoperative vision." The training of local Ugandan eyecare specialists is a two-part process that includes both medical and technical/practical knowledge. Ugandan doctors and nurses are taught the practical and specialized skills required for the treatment of uncorrected visual defects, and receive training in the use of all relevant ophthalmologic/surgical machinery, including how to handle simple repairs. Avoidable blindness The most common cause of blind- ness among Uganda's roughly 320,000 blind individuals is cata- ract (50%), followed by trachoma and other forms of corneal scarring (30%), glaucoma (10%), and miscel- laneous causes (10%). Frequently, blindness results from unattended eye disease that is often associat- ed with poor hygienic conditions, which numbers 30,000 among the Ugandan child population alone. Disease prevention and patient education play a vital role in avoid- ing eye disease. The Ahaus team provides training for women and for community groups that teach locals the importance of health, hygiene, and nutrition, as well as uncompli- cated treatment options. "All in all, 80% of blindness is avoidable and/ or curable using modern treatment methods," Dr. Kretz said. "This means that 12 out of 15 people could avoid blindness if they did not suffer from malnutrition and were provided with vitamins and clean, germ-free water. Half of blind individuals suffer from concomi- tant cataract and can be completely cured. In many cases, spectacles alone would make their lives easier." The Ahaus team's 6 years of work in Uganda has led to the creation of the new eye facility and included advanced vocational train- ing of Ugandan health professionals, equipment sponsoring, the con- struction of the hospital, operating rooms, a solar power installation, a vast improvement in the quality of life of thousands of Ugandan patients, and hope for the future in this region. Since its creation in 2016, Augenärzte für die Welt has also lent its support to projects in Nepal and the Khmer Sight Founda- tion in Cambodia. 2 EW References 1. The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness. Vision 2020: The Right to Sight. WHO Vision 20/20. Available at iapb.org. Accessed December 13, 2017. 2. Augenärzte Gerl, Kretz & Kollegen. Augen- licht für Uganda. Available at augenklinik.de. Accessed December 13, 2017.

• Blank Page
• Blank Page (1)