Improving eye screening technology
Stories | September 17, 2024
For a long time, access to local eye care services in remote areas of Isiolo county has been basically non-existent. This has meant that people wanting eye checks, have needed to make the often-long journey to the central hospital. And when there, there is no guarantee of the quality of services on offer.
Japhet, a staff member at the hospital says the main challenge faced by clinicians has been a lack of basic diagnostic equipment, especially an ophthalmoscope (a diagnostic tool that allows ophthalmologists to see the back of an eye to evaluate the health of the retina and other parts).
Before the CBM supported project started, outreach clinics were operating with just two ophthalmoscopes, both of which were in poor condition. Not only were patients not receiving the quality of care they deserved, but there was a risk of misdiagnosed leading to poor management and in some cases, even blindness.
In 2023, CBM began supporting a project to improve access to quality eye care services by bringing eye services, including surgeries such as cataracts, closer to communities. The project also helps train and up-skill healthcare workers, including the use of a new tool, called an Arclight. Patients are now being screened, diagnosed and managed effectively at the community health centres using the Arclight device.
Samuel, an ophthalmic nurses commented that “Arclight is a very efficient and easy-to-use device. I am able to visualise the back of the eye with ease compared to a standard ophthalmoscope. As a result, I have found myself using the gadget to a point that I have even forgotten the ‘old’ ophthalmoscope”.
The Arclight has revolutionised eye care services! It is portable, durable, and powered by solar power or electricity, making it easy to carry and use during outreach, even in remote areas where there is no electricity. Unlike other eye screening devices which are to be used by ophthalmic staff only, the Arclight can be used by Community Health staff to screen patients at the community level. It is also great value for money, with the project procuring 130 Arclight devices for the same cost as 13 of the more fragile and less user-friendly standard ophthalmoscopes. That means the project can equip more health workers with screening devices to ensure more patients are reached and screened.
This project is an example of how CBM is supporting the use of innovative and effective technology to improve sight-saving interventions for remote communities.
CBM Australia acknowledges the support of the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).
https://www.cbm.org.au/stories/improving-eye-screening-technology
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