The Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences has honoured the memory of Dr Francis Kojovi Morny with a lecture. 

Dr Morny was the main brain behind the set-up of the Department of Optometry in the University of Cape Coast to offer the Doctor of Optometry program and was also a senior lecturer in the department. He also served as a lecturer in KNUST when the program began.                                    

Train More Optometrist                                           

Speaking on the topic “A future of blindness, where is the light.”  Prof.  Olalekan Alabi Oduntan of the University of Madonna, Nigerian, called for the training of more Optometrists in Ghana and other African countries to manage the high numbers of eye defects that lead to blindness. He said many people lose their sights as a result of the lack of experts to diagnose and manage the challenge in the early stages. He said the situation had led to many job losses and other uncomfortable situations for many individuals and families.

Cases of Eye Defects on the Increase

Prof. Oduntan indicated that the increasing cases of eye defects could have been corrected if more optometrists were trained to bring relief to such people. He said the number of Optometrists in Ghana was lower than the current number of eye care practioners to handle the numerous eye cases associated. He, therefore, called on the government to ensure that many people were trained as optometrists to save the situation. “We need to train more eye care professionals, ophthalmologists, ophthalmic nurses and many optometrists. Many eye defect cases have become irreversible due to the absence or an inadequate number of these professionals,” he noted. He cautioned that many people risk going blind if more optometrists were not trained to salvage the situation.

Promote Optometry in UCC

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, assured that he would do his best to ensure the development of Optometry in the University. He eulogised the late Dr Francis Kojovi Morny for leading the campaign to develop optometry in the University.