As part of the efforts to combat blindness in the country, Nigerians aged 40 years and above have been advised to go for regular eye checks once every year and to also consult qualified ophthalmologists for treatment when diagnosed with any eye disorder.

A Senior Lecturer in the Department of Ophthalmology, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, OAU, Ile-Ife, Dr Bolajoko Abidemi Adewara, who made the call during a virtual media roundtable, said regular eye checks coupled with the availability of resources to treat persons with poor vision, were the most effective ways to combat vision problems.

Adewara said not less than 80 percent of blindness in Nigeria can be prevented or treated through health education on eye protection as well as screening.

“One of the ways we can combat blindness in the country is to ensure that health workers have the right training, the materials to test the eyes are available, and they must also be able to educate people about how to care for their eyes.

“Once all these are available, we can conduct community eye screening at the health centres within the communities and also at the school eye clinics, because there are already programmes that entail health workers going to the schools and they can utilise these platforms to educate them on how to protect their eyes.

“Refractive errors which you need glasses to see properly are very common and responsible for poor vision among school children and this can also be tackled. They can also carry out these tests to test their vision and follow-up.”

She said it is also important to know the facilities where people who have been identified with poor vision can be referred.

“So it is important to have the equipment to carry out the screening, then have the training and then carry out the screening and health education.

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