AAS Affiliate Dr Kwadwo Owusu Akuffo, from the Department of Optometry KNUST, will lead a collaborative project on Low vision with Prof. Dr. rer. biol. Hum. Werner Eisenbarth from Hochschule München (HM) under a grant offer of €300,000.00 from the Else Kroener-Fresenius Foundation.

The project, set to run for the next three years, was launched on April 1 2023. It aims to advance University education and patient care in low-vision rehabilitation. The project will see the establishment of a Tertiary Low Vision Center on the KNUST campus, as well as associated regional clinics in the Ashanti region around Kumasi.

The clinics will provide much-needed services to patients suffering from low vision, which affects millions of people worldwide. The clinics will also serve as a training ground for optometry students and eye care professionals, allowing them to gain valuable practical experience in the field of low vision rehabilitation.

Low vision rehabilitation is an emerging field that focuses on helping people with visual impairments to live their lives to the fullest. It is a multidisciplinary approach that involves optometrists, ophthalmologists, occupational therapists, and other healthcare professionals working together to provide the best possible care to patients.

The clinics established under this project will provide a range of services, including low vision assessments, prescription of appropriate optical devices, and training in adaptive skills. The clinics will also collaborate with other healthcare professionals to provide holistic care to patients.

The establishment of these clinics is a significant milestone for the field of low vision rehabilitation in Ghana. It is expected to have a positive impact on the lives of many people suffering from low vision and will contribute to the advancement of the field of low vision rehabilitation in the country.

The project will also provide valuable opportunities for collaboration between KNUST and HM, with the two institutions working together to advance research and education in the field of low-vision rehabilitation.

In summary, the launch of this project is a significant step towards improving the lives of people suffering from low vision in Ghana. The establishment of the Low Vision Clinics will provide much-needed services to patients and valuable training opportunities. The collaboration between KNUST and HM will also contribute to the advancement of the field of low-vision rehabilitation in Ghana and beyond.

Original article published by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology (KNUST), linked here.