Over 50 Regain Sight as Kitale Regional Eye Hospital Launches Advanced Cataract Surgeries

 The Kitale regional eye Hospital Monday begun offering specialized surgeries expanding access to advanced healthcare for Trans Nzoia residents and their neighborhoods with cases of complicated cataract related cases.

The lead eye surgeon Dr. Hillary Rono who was speaking to the Media at the regional facility said almost 6 percent out of 1.5 million people have eye related ailments. He said the surgeries that are being carried out will significantly reduce local backlog of blindness amoung the over 1.5 million residents of Trans Nzoia County.

 ‘’ Yesterday, we started conducting cataract surgeries after screening them here at this regional referral hospital. We have also done the same procedures for the second day seeing more than fifty patients whose sights have successfully been restored ‘’, he said.

He said that  approximately 90,000 people out of the 1.5 million have eye-related ailments, this includes Nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism with Clouding of the eye lens, commonly because of  aging.

Dr. Rono further said due to glaucoma, Increased eye pressures that damages the optic nerves occur in cases of diabetes that damages eyes.

He noted that In addition to farsightedness, other refractive errors that include nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism sight normally gets corrective lenses.  

Dr. Rono expressed gratitude to Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya whom he met Monday Morning for his partnerships in advancing eye care.

He said the governor had backed eye-healthcare commitments including surgical medical camps  in the five sub counties of Cherang'any, Kiminini, Saboti, Endebess and Kwanza.

"These collaborations focus on eliminating preventable blindness through free Surgical Outreaches where our friends from different organizations    and county partners conduct free cataract surgeries, significantly reducing the cost burden on vulnerable patients", he said.

The  Cataracts , he noted are incredibly prevalent when people start aging especially when they approach fifty years and more , where in most reported cases  more than half of all residents in the County gets a cataract or have had cataract.

The acclaimed surgeon who received accolades from the late Queen Elizabeth of England said Cataract surgery is one of the most successful and frequently performed procedures in the world, with clinical surveys showing that up to 98% of patients get satisfaction  with their results.

Through collaboration with partners and other organizations , the surgery camp had been successful and will continue for the next five days .

He said many Patients that were screened since Monday have consistently reported life-changing emotional and physical benefits almost immediately following the procedure and appealed to residents with family members in the five sub counties of Trans Nzoia and their neighboring counties including West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet and Bungoma to take advantage of the regional facility to benefit from services offered by experienced medical personnel.

Dr. Rono said the medical camps will be extended to sub counties after expiry of the five days surgeries at the regional referral facility .

Eye Physician Pauline Matseshe said more than 200 cataract related patients are expected to undergo screening and treatment including surgeries. She added that already children with complex childhood conditions such as congenital cataracts, advanced structuralism and several retinal conditions will get referrals to Sabatia eye Hospital  which is the primary referral center for complicated cases in Western Kenya and the North Rift region , Trans Nzoia included.

Patients who were screened at the regional eye facility in Kitale, according to the physician had received highly specialized treatments that go beyond general eye care, including complex squint surgeries to remove cataracts, low vision therapy, and vireo-retinal surgery.

Some of the patients that had successfully undergone the surgeries among them Wekesa Lusakia from Mitoto in Kiminini Sub County were amazed at what they said was "the world had been lit up" and "colors coming alive."

The elderly Wekesa jokingly said he regrated having not gone for the procedure much earlier to enjoy reading, watching TV and even availing himself to see his favorite politician Edwin Sifuna when he will be touring Trans Nzoia with his Linda Mwananchi and the TAWE brigade.

 Violet Akisa from Birunda who had months ago expressed joy for the surgery she said was a miracle because she had regained her eyesight.

She was full of praise for the surgeons for helping her to see again and return to her normal cores of  fending  for her family.

She said the cataract surgery had done  much more than improving her  eyesight. ‘’ Iam very very happy and greatful to the sponsors of this surgery camp for helping me to discover a clearer vision of how things look like.

Be it school learners from local High Schools and the elderly, Changes in their  subjective happiness and satisfaction could not be hidden with the over 80 years old Johnstone Wekesa who had earlier arrived from Cherang’any on a Motorcycle saying he was satisfied about the cataract surgery that had been performed on Monday.

The Oldman said in an interview  that he had come for dressing of the wound and that he was happier and more satisfied with his new life after the removal of the cataract.

Mzee Wekesa told reporters that the  surgery had restores more than just clear vision and that he  was  surprised by vivid colors.

‘’It is going to be easy for me walk , see things without straining and im grateful to Dr. Rono and his team for saving my eye’’, he said though with little pain and age.