Dr Emmanuel Arrey Tambe, Consultant Ophthalmologist, Vitreoretinal Surgeon, talks on the challenges of treating eye problems in Cameroon.

What is the situation of eye problems in the country?   

Blindness is a public health problem in Cameroon with cataract being the main cause. It is estimated that one per cent of the population is blind and 50 per cent of the cause is due to cataract which can be treated through surgery to restore the sight of the patient. Another common eye disease is glaucoma which can destroy an individual’s sight without pain and such damage is irreversible.

These are the two major public health concerns, but today we are focusing on posterior segment diseases. We are looking at major diseases like diabetes and how it can affect the eye. Looking around us, it is known that diabetes is common and has major effects on the eye such as bleeding, scaring and blindness. High blood pressure can also affect the posterior part of the eye.

We are also going to discuss about a disease which is not very familiar in the community that is retinal detachment of the eye where two layers behind the eye separate from one another. If not treated, it leads to irreversible blindness but it can be easily treated if diagnosed early.

What do you people hope to achieve by the end of the conference?

Early diagnosis of these diseases helps us to treat the diseases early and it gives us better prognosis. With such a conference, we hope to sharpen our skills as to how to recognise the diseases easily and treat quickly or refer to centres where they can be treated. We also hope to create advocacy so that State authorities and others know that they have to invest on some of these diseases that can destroy sights irreversibly through putting structures that may facilitate diagnosis and treatment.

Through the conference, we hope to improve experts’ skills in the management of eye problems so that wherever someone meets qualified eye personnel, he/she will be given a proper eye care without going far from home. Posterior segment diseases of the eyes are serious issues to address because diabetes is common nowadays with changing lifestyle that favours diabetes. Knowing how to treat diabetic eye conditions will certainly be of great benefits to the community.

People have problems getting a proper structure to handle their eye problems as healthcare units are limited. What is the association of ophthalmologists doing about this?

There are structures everywhere to handle eye problems but the main concern we have is the lack of manpower. We do not have enough ophthalmologists and skilled people in the management of eye diseases. That is why patients will always fish for themselves centres that can handle their eye problems. But with the training of ophthalmologists in Cameroon, we hope that the issue of manpower will be resolved especially if we are able to get people who will be ready to work in the periphery.