Statistics released by the Ghana Eye Foundation (G.E.F.) at its launch in late 2005 indicate that out of the total population of 18.8 million (2000 census) in the country, 200,000 people are completely blind while 600,000 people are visually impaired.

Seventy-five per cent of the cases of blindness and visual impairment were due to avoidable and preventable reasons.

Cataract, glaucoma, trachoma, childhood blindness, refractive errors and low visions as well as diabetes and sickle cell retinopathy were cited major causes of visual impairment and blindness among Ghanaians.

The foundation also noted that every year in Ghana 20,000 people are going blind in both eyes due to cataract and an additional 4,000 people lose sight in one eye due to the same reason. Such problems are mainly, but not exclusively, found in persons over age 65 years.

G.E.F. was set up by the Ghana Health Service with the slogan ‘Sight for Ghana’. It aims to mobilise resources within the country for an eye care delivery system. It plans to collaborate with the government and other eye health organisations to achieve the aim of vision 2020: ‘The Right To See.’