Cataract and ophthalmic surgery

Cataracts represent a major source of blindness in rural Africa. New Foundations undertakes regular camps to treat cataracts and screen for other treatable eyediseases.

Cataracts carry both a social, physical, psychological and economic cost to the indvidual and their families, and we are grateful to Bausch and Lomb, Novartis and Ethicon for their support .

Eye Care International, a local NGO run by rural Ophthalmic Surgeon, Dr Gloria Patrick-Ferife provides the surgical expertise for these camps.  Jointly run Triage camps identify patients who will do well from surgery.

At each twice monthly medical camp we screen for cataract  patients and make them aware to attend the twice annual eye camps, where  200 patients are screened and up to 50 patients receive surgery.

The camps also provide the opportunity for other surgeons to gain experience and teaching, something we are keen to develop.

New Foundations also supports other eye camps with both loan of equipment and provision of resources. Annually up to 200 eye patients are treated.

Many suffer from farming accidents, where a simple recovery has been ruined by inappropriate use of local medicine. Preventative eye care education is a crucial part of these camps.

With recently acquired anaesthetic equipment it is hoped that from 2008 we can offer a paediatric surgical service.

Cataract camp report

pre-operative blindness

the operation

post-operation