Over a thousand eyes to see again

UK implant manufacturer, Rayner Intraocular Lenses Ltd announced today that it had recently donated over a thousand intraocular lenses to the Bureau for the Prevention of Blindness, a division of the South Africa National Council for the Blind. The implants will be used to restore the sight of cataract sufferers in the rural areas of the country. Bureau Director, Mr Herman Kluever, received the lenses from Mr John Muller, Chairman of Surgical & Ophthalmic Supplies (SOS) the company that distributes

Rayner lenses in South Africa. Mr Muller said that his company was proud and happy to assist with bringing the lenses into the country, saying it would give people with cataract in rural communities the opportunity to better their lives.

“These lenses will only be used in our rural programme where we do annually some 4,000 cataract extractions 

among our indigent population,” said Kluever. “The donation of lenses is a wonderful gift. We are absolutely delighted with it.” He added that “Fifty of the lenses are of the latest C-flex® design which will be used by the Bureau to conduct a pilot project to bring foldable lens technology to this part of the population. Up to now the Bureau used only rigid lenses because of the higher market price of foldable lenses.”

Cataract is the leading cause of blindness in South Africa. Some 125,000 South Africans are needlessly blind merely because they cannot afford treatment or do not have access to adequate eye care services. A cataract can be removed during a 20-minute operation and sight is restored almost immediately. Since 1944, the Bureau has screened close to 1.2 million patients, issued over 120,000 spectacles and performed more than 66,000 sight-restoring operations.

Rayner’s donation coincides with the 75th anniversary of the Ophthalmic Society of South Africa (OSSA). Donald J Munro, Rayner’s Managing Director said the company has had a long relationship with the South African surgeons and the Bureau for the Prevention of Blindness, being one of the first suppliers of IOLs to the Bureau. “This year was special: the OSSA celebrated its 75th year and Herman Kluever received the Citizen’s Award from the Socoety at the annual Meeting in March in Cape Town. Mr Kluever and his team have done great work to help those South Africans who otherwise have no access to good ophthalmic surgical treatment. Our donation will continue and extend that work.”