Guest post by Mishi Nassir, Kwale Eye Centre, Kenya
Early eye checks can save a child’s vision - and sometimes their life
In Kenya and around the world, children are still going blind - or even dying - from eye conditions that could have been treated if caught early. That’s why red reflex screening (also known as the fundal reflex) is such a powerful tool. It’s a simple, painless test that can detect serious conditions like congenital cataract or retinoblastoma in newborns and young children.
At Kwale Eye Centre on Kenya’s coast, we’ve launched a programme to make red reflex screening part of routine child healthcare. In partnership with the Arclight Project and the Norwegian charity Right to Sight, we’re training local health workers to catch signs of danger early - so children can get the help they need in time.
Because when it comes to saving sight, a little light goes a long way.
The challenge: Serious eye disease often goes unnoticed
Conditions like congenital cataracts and retinoblastoma (a rare but deadly childhood eye cancer) are often diagnosed too late. In rural and underserved areas, children may not see a specialist until their vision is already lost - or worse, until the disease has progressed beyond treatment.
This isn’t just a problem of access - it’s a problem of early detection.
The solution: Training health workers in red reflex checks
With the support of our partners, Kwale Eye Centre has launched a training programme for nurses, midwives, and medical students. They’re learning to:
- Perform red reflex (fundal reflex) tests on newborns and children
- Spot early warning signs of serious conditions
- Refer children quickly to specialists when needed
The goal is to make this check part of every child’s routine examination - from birth onward.
Health workers in Kwale learning how to use the Arclight.
The tool that makes it possible: The Arclight
To make this work in busy clinics and rural health posts, we’re using the Arclight - a solar-powered, pocket-sized eye examination tool that’s already revolutionizing eye care in low-resource settings.
Why Arclight is ideal for this work
• Robust: Stands up to heat, dust, and daily use
• Affordable: Costs far less than traditional equipment
• Accurate: Provides clear views of both the front and back of the eye
With the Arclight, health workers don’t need a hospital setting - they can screen for red reflex in a maternity ward, clinic, or even a village under a tree.
Shaban from Kwale Eye Centre performing an eye examination with Arclight
Real-world impact: Vision protected, lives saved
Thanks to funding and support from Right to Sight, dozens of healthcare workers in Kwale are now trained and equipped to perform red reflex screening.
Each early test is an opportunity to change a child’s life - for a future with sight, learning, and opportunity.
This programme is:
• Sustainable: Building skills that last in local health systems
• Scalable: A model for child eye care in rural Africa and beyond
• Life-changing: Preventing blindness and even saving lives
Looking ahead
At Kwale Eye Centre, we believe that no child should go blind from a treatable condition, simply because of where they were born. By working together, through training, innovation, and committed partnerships, we are proving that early detection is not just possible, it’s powerful.
Matilda, an optometrist at Kwale Eye Centre, performing a red (fundal) reflex test
