20m Nigerians blind, says Optometric association

over 45 million people are blind worldwide, while 135 million people have severe visual impairment

Anambra State Chapter of Nigerian Optometric Association, NOA, has said no fewer than 20 million Nigerians are totally blind.

State chairman of NOA, Dr. Ifeanyi Obi, disclosed this during a courtesy call on the Anambra State commissioner for health, Dr. Josephat Akabuike in Awka.

He said: “The statistics are indeed startling and unfortunately getting worse. Today, over 45 million people are blind worldwide, while 135 million people have severe visual impairment. Nigeria is among the countries with the highest number of blind people and this is worrisome to optometrists”

Obi noted that 80 per cent of the blindness could have been prevented if the necessary measures were taken to prevent the situation from getting worse, lamenting that a recent survey showed that less than five percent of those involved in primary health care delivery in developing countries had little or no knowledge of the eye care.

He said the role of optometrists as specialists in primary eye care delivery entailed being able to identify, diagonise, treat and refer patients with eye conditions and commended the Anambra State government for the recent employment of a large number of optometrists in the state civil service.

Obi explained that the association would mount a vigorous awareness campaign on preventable blindness during this year’s World Sight Day taking place on October 9, 2014, to let the people know that there is need for them to take care of their eyes on a regular basis.

In his speech, the health commissioner, Dr. Akabuike said the state government was committed to carrying along all members of the health care team to meet the health care needs of the people.

He said that plans were afoot to upgrade some health institutions to the status of comprehensive centers that would include offering eye care services.