Blindness is treatable, says expert

09 July 2014 - 02:00 By Alita Wilkens
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Visually impaired man
Visually impaired man
Image: Walter Astrada

Fact: 80% of blindness and visual impairment is treatable, according to Professor Colin Cook, head of the University of Cape Town's division of ophthalmology.

Avoidable blindness will now be tackled by the university following their new partnership with the Commonwealth Eye Health Consortium.

The consortium's aim is to treat and eradicate avoidable blindness by strengthening health systems in Commonwealth countries.

"It will provide scholarships for clinical fellows and masters students in public health from African Commonwealth countries who will study at UCT," Cook said.

The consortium was established with a R131-million grant from The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust.

It plans to revolutionise eye-care in developing countries by making it more "affordable".

According to the consortium's website, affordability includes the implementation of the portable eye examination kit system that allows people to diagnose eye problems only using a smartphone.

This partnership may help alleviate the main contributor to disabilities in South Africa - blindness. About 80% of the visually impaired population live in rural areas, according to stats from the SA National Council for the Blind.

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