The San Pedro Lions Club has announced the return of the monthly eye clinic offered by the Belize Council for the Visually Impaired (BCVI). The free eye screening service is available on the first Wednesday of the month on a first-come basis. The first clinic is May 5th, from 10:30AM to 3:30PM at the San Pedro Lions Den on Barrier Reef Drive.
The service is provided countrywide and has been offered in San Pedro Town for over a decade now by BCVI. The main objective of the program is to prevent blindness. Many people cannot afford to get the services from a private doctor, and BCVI offers these exams for free. The service is available from the young to the oldest person.
In the past, different Optometrists visiting the island have noted that the proximity to the sea and clear sunny weather are common factors for eye diseases. The main eye disease detected in San Pedro is ‘pterygium,’ which is a growth on the conjunctiva that lines the inside of the eyelids and covers the sclera (white part of the eye). This is said to be due to too much exposure to the sun, low humidity, and dust. The lack of protecting the eyes with sunshades is the main factor for such eye disease. Symptoms include persistent redness, inflammation, foreign body sensation, tearing, dry and itchy eyes. If untreated, Pterygium can affect vision.
This is one reason why anyone suspecting eye issues is encouraged to take advantage of this monthly eye examination. Some diseases show no symptoms; thus, early diagnosis is essential. Persons living in areas where it is hot, clear, and days are mainly sunny are advised to protect their sight by wearing sunglasses when outside.
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