Appreciate your eyesight on International Women’s Day
Retina South African shines light on women and girls with genetic retinal conditions on International Women's Day.
Today (March 8) marks International Women’s Day.
Retina South Africa highlights that women and girls with genetic retinal conditions face daily discrimination and prejudice.
The World Blind Union estimates that two thirds of blind people globally are women and this is probably within the partially sighted community as well.
In disadvantaged communities girls are generally more disadvantaged than their male counterparts and this leads to the under-education of partially sighted girls.
In retinal genetic blindness the best hope of rectifying the situation is to aggressively pursue the therapies that progress in research now offers.
Advances in genetics, stem cells and artificial vision are offering real hope of a sighted future to this generation of affected girls and boys.
Retina South Africa is working to facilitate genetic testing for all young patients affected by Leber Congenital Amaurosis, Stargardt Disease, Retinitis Pigmentosa and Usher Syndrome.
These inherited forms of blindness are thought to affect 17 000 young South Africans destroying more of their vision every day.
The Division of Human Genetics at the University of Cape Town is a partner in this ambitious but achievable endeavour.
For more information contact Retina South Africa on 086 059 5959 or send an email to national@retinasa.org.za.
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