Slit Lamps for Afghan Eye Clinic

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Preventing Blindness in Afghanistan

Afghanistan has one of the highest rates of preventable blindness in the world.
We can make a significant, cost-effective difference.

THE INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE MISSION

operates eye hospitals in five Afghanistan locations. Each year they see over 250,000 patients, and perform over 15,000 sight-saving surgeries. Their hospital in Kabul, run in conjunction with the Ministry of Higher Education, is the University Eye Hospital and is the main training and referral hospital for eye care in Afghanistan. Their staff at UEH sees over 40,000 patients and performs over 4,000 sight-saving surgeries annually.

SLIT LAMP EXAMS ARE DONE:

As part of routine eye examinations with other procedures to evaluate the eye, such as an ophthalmoscope, vision testing, or tonometry (measuring pressure).
To look at structures in the back of the eye, such as the optic nerve or retina.
To detect disorders in the front of the eye, such as infection or injury to the cornea, cataracts, conjunctivitis or iritis.
To help detect and monitor glaucoma or macular degeneration.
To check for a foreign body, such as a metal fragment, on or in the eye.
To detect eye problems caused by diseases, such as diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis.
To monitor complications such as bleeding after an eye injury.

When I was in Afghanistan last November, I visited the eye hospital and clinic in Kabul run by IAM, the International Assistance Mission. This is the agency with whom our son David and his wife Beverly serve. IAM has operated an eye care program in Afghanistan since 1966 and now provides over 80% of the eye care in the country. Despite having limited resources, the medical staff is doing remarkable work.

I had a tour of the hospital and my guide showed me an examination instrument called a Slit Lamp. This tool has a moveable light source and a high magnification binocular microscope to view the inside of the eye.

The name is derived from its adjustable light beam. By changing the width of the beam, the examiner is able to gather essential information about the eye. Routine slit lamp examinations help detect eye problems at an early stage and guide treatment if problems develop.

An urgent need!

At one time the clinic had nine of these lamps, but my guide lamented that only one of them was working properly. They desperately needed to purchase new ones. When I saw the importance of this equipment and the relatively low cost, I immediately knew that we should respond to this need, and I promised her that we would raise funds to buy one.

After I got home, David wrote that it would be wonderful if we could raise the funds for one lamp, but if we could raise enough for two, it would seem like a miracle! In December we sent $4,500 to buy the first lamp. Now we are working to raise another $4,500 for the second and offer an opportunity to have a part.

You can help!

Your contribution is needed to purchase this second slit lamp. It is not expensive, so any contribution makes a big difference. Most of the tragic blindness in Afghanistan is preventable. Will you send a gift to provide this instrument that is so vital to examination and treatment of adults and children whose sight is threatened? All funds will be used to cover the expense of the purchase. Nothing will be deducted for other expenses. Please consider making a donation to prevent blindness and restore sight.

Thank you and God bless you,
Alec Brooks

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