Northern Irish eye specialists bring pioneering glaucoma laser treatment to Sierra Leone

Jonathan Hall, a Belfast-based optometrist, and Colin Willoughby, a Professor of Ophthalmology, installed the laser at Connaught Hospital, the primary eye care facility in Freetown, Sierra Leone's capital, according to the Belfast Newsletter the duo also trained local ophthalmologists on its use.

The laser treatment offers significant benefits for glaucoma patients, potentially reducing or eliminating the need for long-term medication. “The laser can control glaucoma, allowing patients to either avoid medication for many years or reduce the number of eyedrop medications needed,” the report detailed.

Hall highlighted the severity of glaucoma in Africa, stating, “Glaucoma has an earlier onset in Africans and is more aggressive in its course. In most of Africa, only about one in 20 of those with the disease are aware, with over 50% being unilaterally blind on presentation.”

Access to eye health services in Sierra Leone is particularly challenging. "In Sierra Leone, access to eye health checks and treatment is challenging as the country is among the poorest nations in the world. Glaucoma is treated with eyedrop medication, but treatment is for life and the cost is out of the reach of most of the 8.6 million inhabitants of Sierra Leone,” Hall explained.

Through UK charity Vision Action, Hall has been actively involved in improving eye health and vision in West Africa. According to the report, he managed to secure a laser used for treating glaucoma from a private clinic in Ireland, which was no longer needed.

Glaucoma remains a significant health concern in Africa, with a higher prevalence compared to other regions. A 2017 study estimated that 8 million people in Africa suffered from open-angle glaucoma, with the number expected to double by 2040. The rate of vision loss and blindness due to glaucoma in Africa is twice the global average, the study indicated.