Agony of bringing up ‘night blind’ siblings

By ROBERT KIPLAGAT

Baringo, Kenya: In the adjacent village of Kasiber, three women in one family have a condition that is exactly the opposite; they can only see well during the day, up to around 6pm.

For someone who does not know them, Egla, Faith and Emily look fit as they carry out their daily chores. But the women, all in their 20s, depend on their mother Sogome Kushoto, 70, to take them to bed every time they ‘turn blind’.

They say their condition has on several occasions exposed them to danger when night falls before they get home.

Ms Kushoto is appealing to well-wishers to help the three live their lives normally: “I’m ageing and it will be difficult assisting them every night.”

Dr John Kipkorir, an eye specialist, says such cases though rare are genetic.

Kipkorir, who was Chief Government ophthalmologist for seven years, says the problem stems from the nerves in the retina. “Most of these cases are genetic with nerves in retina. One is born with it,” he said.

He said the problem has no cure but in Europe, doctors can do gene therapy which involves injecting new cells in the retina.

“That is only in Europe because it is very expensive,” he added.