http://www.sancb.org.za/kids.html
Causes of blindness
Congenital or hereditary cataract is the cause of between 10-15% of childhood blindness. Surgery has a very high success rate.
Congenital Glaucoma, causing damage to eye tissue owing to increased intraocular pressure, causes 5-10% of blindness.
Retinopathy of Prematurity occurs when high levels of oxygen are administered to premature infants, causing scarring and retinal detachment.
Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) - a hereditary disease, causing degeneration of the retina.
Vitamin A deficiency.
Rubella virus, transmitted to the foetus by the mother during pregnancy, affects various parts of the eye.
Toxoplasmosis is an intraocular infection of the unborn child.
Eye Health
Motswedi Information Centre, a division of the SANCB, is committed to promoting eye health education in South Africa and its neighbouring countries, through the distribution of information and education materials.
Based at our Pretoria Head Office, the Centre offers a free walk-in service as well as a distance enquiry service.
Visitors can access reference books on common eye diseases, ophthalmology, eye surgery, refractive errors and community eye health, as well as slide sets, posters, leaflets, health journals and newsletters.
Motswedi is not just a library, but a two-way channel of communication. Users – mainly health workers, ophthalmic nursing students, universities, schools, libraries, hospitals, eye clinics, government departments and researchers – not only obtain information, but also contribute relevant information for use by others.
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Common eye disorders
Cataract
Cataract is a gradual clouding of the lens, leading to blurred or dull vision. Although some babies are born with congenital cataract, it more commonly occurs in older people. Cataract surgery – during which the damaged lens is removed and replaced with an artificial lens – is quick, painless and relatively inexpensive.
'I can see again!' – read about the