DATA released from the Ocular Prosthesis Unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) indicate that a total of 126 people have fixed custom fit artificial eyes, known as, ocular prosthesis in the second quarter of 2018 alone.
The only ocularist in the country, Ms Evelyn Kyereh, disclosed this in an address when the Ocular Prosthesis Unit of the hospital joined the world to mark World Ocular Prosthesis Day.
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The event was on the theme: “Customise Ocular Prosthesis: An Eye for Beauty,” and it was graced by ocularists from Australia.
The event, which was being celebrated in Ghana for the first time, was to highlight the availability of ocular prosthesis, an artificial eye that restores the structure and aesthetic defect caused by eye removal at the KBTH Eye Centre.
Addressing the gathering, Ms Kyereh said getting an artificial eye does not require any surgical but handmade procedure that cost a person only GH¢800.
According to her, the prosthesis cannot see even though it looks like a normal eye, adding that there are no pains or infections after the procedure.
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She also mentioned that the Ocular Prosthesis Unit welcomes any eye clinic that would want to learn the procedure.
Ms Kyereh disclosed that although ocular prosthesis is not a permanent replacement for a lost eye, they are custom-made to suit the requirements of every facial type and made to match the functional eye down to the shade of the iris.
She explained that artificial eyes are made from white abcrylic and often take three days to go through the process of manufacturing the custom-made new eyes for patients.
Ms Kyereh added the unit, which she started in 2013, has so far served 126 clients, with new custom-fit ocular prosthesis countrywide and from the sub-region as well.
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She added that a survey carried out at the centre about the unit service has indicated that patients have a positive perception about their custom-fit ocular prosthesis.
For her part, the former HoD of the Eye Centre, Dr Edith Dogbe, explained that the unit began during her tenure as the head discovered an advert for the training of an ocularist in India.
Dr Dogbe mentioned that the creation of the unit was not easy, as equipment for the design and moulding of the artificial eye was not readily available.
She said through persistence she was able to get some machines to do her work and stressed the need for the Chief Executive Officer of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr Daniel Asare, to facilitate the procurement of the needed equipment for the unit.
For his part, Dr Asare disclosed that the hospital was trying to procure all the necessary equipment needed for the unit.