Ophthalmologists worry over rate of blindness in Nigeria

THE Ophthalmologists Society of Nigeria has expressed worry over the rate of blindness in the country.

The group stated this in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, while briefing newsmen on its planned conference tagged ‘Technology for Ophthalmic Care in the Developing World’ scheduled to hold in the state.

It called on all tiers of government to support it to commence the production of eye drops and other facilities needed to check the incidence of blindness in the country.

The Chairperson, Local Organising Committee for the conference, Dr. Adedayo Adio, who made this known, noted that the level of cataract cases in the country was disturbing even when the disease was treatable.

According to Adio, investment in the production of eye drops will help to reduce drastically the cases of blindness in the country.

“We are worried about the recurrent cases of blindness in the country. Most of the causes of this blindness are curable.

“This is the reason we are also giving attention to the rehabilitation of the irreversibly blind,” she added.

Adio, who called for government support, explained that the association would commence the production of local eye drops and other eye care equipment in the country.

She added, “We all know the importance of technology in taking care of the human eye. It is expensive, especially in the face of economic recession. We are looking at how we can help to encourage the emerging ones to equip their hospitals in the developing world.

“We are trying to look inward to see how we can start duplicating this equipment and eye drops produced overseas. We do not want to depend on imported products again.”

“We want to start producing these drugs and equipment in order to develop our economy. We require assistance from the government so that we can achieve these. If we have this, the care for the eye will become less expensive.”