‘Unprescribed eyeglasses harmful’

An optometrist at the Eye Care Department of the Ridge Hospital, Dr Owusu Bamfo, has cautioned teenagers against the use of unprescribed medicated eyeglasses.  

The wearing of unprescribed medicated glasses is quite fashionable among students, but  Dr Bamfo said the practice was dangerous and could destroy the  eyesight of such students. Dr Bamfo, who cautioned students in the habit of doing so during an interview, also  warned parents against buying eyeglasses from unlicensed opticians.

“Those so-called opticians lack the expertise and cannot detect the actual problem with the eye,” he said, and advised parents to consult eye specialists for examination  and prescriptions  before buying eyeglasses for their children.  

Dr Bamfo was not happy about the fact that some parents visited optical shops to buy eyeglasses for their children, instead of  taking  them to  hospital for eye  examination  and prescription by an eye care specialist.

He  explained that using unprescribed eyeglasses could cause the child to experience headache and discomfort and he or she might eventually refuse to wear the recommended one by an eye specialist because of the previous experience.

By Wilda Evans / Junior Graphic / Ghana