Eye patients being examined in Bahati constituency, Nakuru County. [Photo/Brian Itava]
People living with eye ailments in five wards of Bahati constituency will benefit from a free eye clinic services courtesy of Rotary club and partners.
The week-long exercise is steered by eight seasoned ophthalmologists from the United States of America and local opticians. The exercise seeks to treat eye defects and make referrals in dire cases.
The club's operations manager David Muiru said the exercise, which kicked off in Bahati ward early morning today, had 800 people with vision-related problems examined, given eyeglasses and treated or given referrals.
“The constituency is home to over 180,000 people and medics here report that nearly one-third of the population mostly school going children and the elderly are affected by a range of eye ailments which if not treated in time may blight their sight,” said Muiru.
The team`s chief Ophthalmologist Dr. Nelson Edwards said a considerable number of people were diagnosed with cataracts, conjunctivitis or had short and long sight.
“Patients that have ailments triggered by inflammation of the eyes will get complete doses of drugs to help reverse their condition while those with sight inconsistencies will get free eyeglasses,” Edwards said.
Beneficiaries were also educated on proper eye care as a way of empowering them with information about curbing eye infections.
Area Member of Parliament Kimani Ngunjiri commended the initiative saying it will help scale down incidences of eye infections or defects among vulnerable community members.