Eye Disease and Conditions

In developing countries like Kenya, millions navigate daily life with severe visual impairments that are entirely preventable but persist due to widespread poverty and limited access to basic healthcare.

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CATARACTS

What are cataracts?

Definition: Cataracts are a common eye condition, primarily affecting older adults.
Blurred Vision: Cataracts cause blurry vision, often described as seeing through a gray fog.
Distance Vision Affected: The blurriness is most noticeable at distances greater than 3 meters (about 10 feet), making it hard to see details. Glasses don’t improve this type of blur.
Progressive Condition: As a cataract develops, the fog thickens, and vision worsens. In severe cases, only light perception may remain.
Serious Consequences: Untreated cataracts can lead to significant vision problems.
Treatable Condition: A simple surgical procedure can restore sight in most cases.
Common Surgery: In Norway, approximately 50,000 cataract surgeries are performed each year.

GLAUCOMA

What is Glaucoma?

Definition: A group of eye diseases that cause vision loss by damaging the optic nerve, leading to the disappearance of parts of the visual field.
Progression: It can manifest as either an acute or chronic condition. If left untreated, both forms can lead to severe vision reduction and blindness.
Subtle Onset: Early detection is difficult because the disease develops quietly; visual acuity (sharpness of vision) is usually the last thing to be affected.
Key Risk Factor: Elevated pressure within the eye.
Treatment Strategy: The main goal of treatment is to reduce eye pressure.
Treatment Methods: Managed through eye drops, laser treatments, or surgery.

REFRACTIVE ERRORS

What are Refractive Errors?

Definition: Problems with how the eyes focus. Common types include nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hypermetropia), and astigmatism (an unevenly shaped cornea).
The Solution: These issues are usually easily fixed with standard glasses or contact lenses, which restore clear vision.
The Leading Cause: Uncorrected refractive errors are the most common reason people experience trouble seeing worldwide.
WHO Estimates: Out of the 253 million people globally with blindness or serious vision issues, 123.8 million are affected by uncorrected refractive errors, and 65.2 million by cataracts.
Highly Preventable: Up to 75% of all global blindness and poor vision is completely avoidable through glasses, contacts, or surgery.

AMD

What is AMD?

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye condition that mainly affects older adults. There are two main forms:

Dry AMD: This is the more common and less severe type. It doesn’t involve any fluid leaking in the retina (the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye). Currently, there’s no treatment for dry AMD.
Wet AMD: This type is more serious. It occurs when blood vessels in the retina start to leak fluid. Treatment for wet AMD involves injecting medications called VEGF inhibitors into the eye. These medications help to stop the leakage. These injections usually need to be repeated many times, sometimes monthly, for years.

Both dry and wet AMD can make it harder to see clearly, making activities like reading difficult. However, peripheral vision (used for walking) is usually less affected, so people with AMD can often still get around safely.

TRAUCOMA

What is Trachoma?

Definition: A highly contagious eye infection caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis.
Global Impact: It is a major cause of preventable blindness worldwide, primarily affecting developing countries with limited healthcare and poor sanitation.
Vulnerable Populations: Children are especially at risk, and repeated infections over time cause the most severe damage.
How it Spreads: Easily transmitted through close personal contact (especially within families) and by flies that carry the bacteria.
Prevention Strategies: Focused on improving environmental conditions, including better personal hygiene, access to clean water, and proper sanitation.
Treatment Options: Early infections are treated with antibiotics. In advanced cases, surgery is required to correct the turned-in eyelid and prevent further damage to the cornea. Early detection is critical to preventing permanent vision loss.