KATH Performs First Vitreo Retinal Surgeries; Restores Sight To 18 Blind Patients

The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in the Ashanti Regional capital Kumasi has successfully performed its first Vitreo Retinal surgeries restoring the sight of some eighteen patients who were at various stages of blindness.

The first Vitreo Retinal operations in the Region were made possible by the Himalayan Cataract Project and the Moran Eye Centre in Salt Lake City – UTAH

These two institutions partnered KATH in providing the equipment and training Ghana’s fifth specialist in this area Dr Akwasi Ahmed to anchor this specialty to serve the region and beyond.

The commencement of these specialized operations at KATH should come as a relief to patients especially in the northern part of Ghana, suffering blinding conditions as a result of diabetes, sickle cell and other conditions affecting the retina.

Vitreo Retinal surgeries are targeted at disease conditions that affect the Retina which is the thin transparent structure that acts like a camera film at the back of the eye.

This structure can undergo disease processes such as peeling called Retina detachments, developing holes called macula holes and even the vessels covering can bleed from disease conditions like diabetes, sickle cell and many other disease conditions.

Until recently, patients had to travel outside the country at a cost ranging between ten thousand and twenty thousand cedis to perform these surgeries.

Dr Paul Beinstein a specialist from the Moran Eye Centre, Salt Lake City, UTAH led the team to operate on eighteen patients who have had their sight restored at a heavily subsidized cost.

He told Ultimate News, “We have been seeing patients with retina detachments, sickle cell disease and diabetes. These are serious blinding conditions and our goal is to do the surgeries to help these people see again. We are also training the local doctors so they have the equipment and the right abilities to take care of these patients.”

The first vitreo retinal surgeon at KATH Dr Akwasi Ahmed who has trained with Himalayan Cataract Project And the Moran Eye Centre is confident the hospital is not only proud to offer these services but is also working at conducting these operations at an affordable cost to patients.

“You know the socio economic situation of our patients. In the past, we have always had to refer patients to Accra and they paid tens of thousands of cedis and many patients don’t go and they have gone blind. Here with the interventions from the Moran Eye Centre and the HCP we are going to be cost effective and to make them a bit cheaper for the patients,” he assured.

Head of the retina unit of the KATH Dr Amos Aikins told Ultimate News’ Ivan Heathcote – Fumador, the short stay of the team and the number of operations has contributed an appreciable transfer of knowledge to the hospital.

He admitted, “This is the first of its kind in this hospital and it is of benefit to both people in Ashanti region and in the northern sector of Ghana because the cost to them was so high, they had to either go to Accra or travel outside the country to restore their sight through this surgery. This one week of training from this team has helped in the transfer of much skills and knowledge to us.”

This feat represents another breakthrough in healthcare for the KATH and by far, the Northern half of Ghana.