Ophthalmology

“The health of the eyes seems to demand a horizon. We are never tired as long as we can see far enough.” Ralph Waldo.

The Ophthalmology Department has been in service for decades now following the increased concern on blindness and visual health among the public. The ophthalmology department has been at the forefront in ensuring that preventive measures are instigated to reduce the risk of eye blindness among people.

The department always adopts the negotiation style when it comes to problem-solving and consultations. It’s the department where a patient receives results relative to his or her condition.

It offers services to an average of 60 patients thus resulting to an average number of 720 patients in a year. Out of the number, about 15% are serious cases which require surgery.

The department always offers training services to the Community Health Volunteers on ophthalmological techniques. The department also carries out outreaches to the community members, including the patients it had served before. This is done to extend their services to other affected patients within the community.

 In collaboration with the County Government and the Ministry of Health, the department has been able to make milestones in improving and sensitizing optical wellness.

The department has some 4 workers consisting of 1 nurse, 1 records person and 2 support staff. The friendly working environment has enabled the department to take steps in achieving its goals which include:

• To provide comprehensive healthcare to its clients through different ophthalmological services for example eye dressing and refraction services.
• To reduce the rate of blindness by the prompt intervention of the condition taking available measures including surgeries to prevent the condition from worsening.

 

MISSION 

To be a unit of excellence in providing surgical medical care in the Western region.

 

VISION

To give comprehensive professional and affordable healthcare to all ophthalmological patients.

 

SERVICES PROVIDED INCLUDE;

• • Registration of patients; through the offering of passbooks or eye-card at the reception to enable patients to receive services from the ophthalmologist.

• Clinical assessment; looking into records of patients to establish possible diagnoses relating to different eye conditions

• Consultant clinic; booking of appointment cards to see the ophthalmologist.

• Minor surgery; minor surgeries for chronic conditions such as glaucoma, corneal disease and cataracts, among others.

• Refraction- there is a chart with letters written using different size are written. The ophthalmologist will be doing tests to establish the ability of the patient to see the words with one eye at a time.

• Eye dressing. Soft, sterilized absorbent wound pad cushions is placed to the injured area to protect from infection

• Eye irrigation to help manage chemical contamination of the eye to prevent long-term damage and sight loss.

• Injection where the administration of liquid medication is required or recommended.

• Counselling. Patients are given directions on how to live with the condition.

• Admissions

Research and training

 The department is implementing projects to reduce cataract cases within the communities as well as conducting sensitization for early diagnosis of the same to avoid blindness. This project is funded by the Fred Hollow’s Foundation which has a memorandum of understanding with Kisumu County.