Dr. Kwame Oben-Nyarko, Managing Director of Third Eye Care, told The Ghanaian Times that the gesture formed part of their corporate social responsibility.

He said a team of 14 optometrists corrected refractive errors, which he said was a preventable sight complication.

Dr. Oben-Nyarko said those who required surgery were referred to the appropriate facilities, as some sight conditions including glaucoma and cataract were covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme.

He said childhood blindness is a global menace caused by measles, vitamin A deficiency, cataract, glaucoma and refractive errors, urging parents to ensure regular eye screening for their children.

Currently, Dr. Oben-Nyarko said, Ghana was among countries with high recorded cases of glaucoma, a condition he said could be managed medically and surgically.

He urged government to train more specialists to provide services in the hinterland,  glaucoma prone areas.

Dr. Oben-Nyarko advised parents to send their children to the hospital when their children put a constant frown on the face, always move closer to see objects, or if their eyes are not looking in the same direction as those might be symptoms of sight complications.

Mr. Emmanuel Kojo Kwarteng, Corporate Affairs Director, GCB Bank,  said the eye is a delicate  organ which required regular checkup, and said GCB Bank wanted to ease the financial burden on parents, adding that “eye treatment is very expensive”.

By Malik Sullemana