KNUST Optometry Student Doreen Tachie-Donkor Helps Young Boy Regain Normal Vision Without Surgery
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| Before and after |
In a heartwarming display of skill, dedication, and science in action, Doreen Tachie-Donkor, a sixth-year Optometry student at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has earned widespread praise on social media after helping to correct a young boy’s eye condition—without surgery.
Doreen, known for using her platforms to educate the public about eye health, shared the inspiring journey of the boy who was diagnosed with a condition called Accommodative Esotropia—a form of strabismus where the eyes turn inward, especially when focusing on close objects. Locally, this condition is known by names such as alukumi or anikyew in many Ghanaian communities.
“This little one has a type of strabismus called Accommodative Esotropia. Basically, his eyes turn inward, especially when he’s doing things like reading or focusing on close-up work,” Doreen explained in her post.
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| Boy with Accommodative Esotropia |
Working under the supervision of Dr. Okyere Kofi Attakora—an esteemed KNUST alumnus and former Vice President of the Optometry Students Association—Doreen and her team undertook a clinical assessment that involved the use of a prism bar to measure the degree of deviation in the eyes. The result showed a deviation of about 25 prism diopters.
To get a more accurate understanding of the boy’s eye power, they used a special eye drop known as Cyclopentolate, which temporarily paralyzes the focusing muscles in the eye. This process, known as wet refraction, is a standard clinical method used to determine a patient's true refractive error.
“Once we gave him the correct prescription based on that, his eyes completely straightened. No surgery, just glasses!” Doreen joyfully reported.
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| Doreen with the boy after the correction |
She further noted that while glasses alone worked in this case, other treatments—such as prisms, vision therapy, or even surgery—may be necessary in more complex cases.
Understanding Strabismus and the Importance of Early Intervention
Doreen also used the opportunity to share important insights about strabismus, especially for parents and adults who might encounter similar cases.
“Strabismus can be fully corrected with spectacles, depending on the type of strabismus and the age of the patient,” she noted.
She emphasized the crucial role of early detection and treatment:
“One thing about strabismus is, if treatment is delayed past the early years (0–8 years)—when the eyes and brain are still developing—surgery can still straighten the eyes, but the brain may struggle to adjust.”
Her message to parents was clear:
“If you notice that your baby’s eye is turning abnormally in or out, please don’t wait. Take him or her to see an Optometrist as soon as possible.”
She also reassured parents who might be fearful of medical intervention:
“Don’t let the fear of surgery stop you from seeking help 🙏🏻. You might even be surprised—your child may not need surgery at all.”
And for adults experiencing eye misalignment:
“If you’re an adult looking to correct eye misalignment, please see an Optometrist at a certified facility for a thorough examination. Your Optometrist will walk you through the appropriate treatment options and help you choose what’s best for you.”
The transformation was documented in a before-and-after photo series she captioned, "How it started" vs. "How it ended." The first photo showed the young boy with visible signs of the eye condition, and the second showed a beaming Doreen with the boy, now wearing glasses and clearly on the path to improved vision.
Her X (formerly Twitter) post has since gone viral, amassing over 15 million impressions and sparking important conversations about child eye care and the need for early screenings.
Here are a few notable reactions from her post:
“A lot of people do not know that strabismus is correctable. One of the hacks is detecting it early and taking your kids for a routine eye test. Early use of glasses and vision therapy can be used to correct it.” — Best Antiblue Light Glasses Plug in Lagos
“Surprised by the amount of people that didn’t know that strabismus can be corrected, especially when you start early on 😅. We have a long way to go with patient education in eye care.” — Sage of Six Drafts
“It’s a good time to say: take your kids to the hospital for an eye exam before they start schooling. Too many kids grow up with Amblyopia because parents don’t want their kids to use glasses.” — de Molina | @TheWayThinker
How it started. How it ended. 😊 pic.twitter.com/SoRLoEQ39J
— doreeeeenn👩🏻⚕️🇬🇭 (@dr_doreeeeenn) April 19, 2025
The success of this non-surgical intervention has left many amazed and inspired, reigniting trust in science and the importance of professional eye care.
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