By Dennis Agbo
The Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria (OSN), has revealed that the southeastern part of Nigeria has the highest low vision, glaucoma, cataract and other eye defect prevalence, more than other regions in Nigeria.
The OSN stated that the reason for the high prevalence was not because of environmental factors, but because the region has the lowest intervention rate more than any other part of the country.
The Society made the disclosure during its 49th Annual General Meeting and 48th Scientific International Conference, ongoing in Enugu.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the conference, the President of OSN, Dr Abiola Oyeleye said that the Society has over 700 Ophthalmologists in Nigeria, noting that the most common cause of blindness through Cataract was age but that the society was educating people on how to take preventive measures.
A former President of OSN, Prof Sebestin Nwosu said that it was true that the south east has the highest rate of not just glaucoma but also prestrous segment because of genetic factor which the people in the south east are prone to.
“The best way to tackling it is by creating awareness, to ask people to go for examination. When people present themselves early they will be examined and the disease will be controlled because now there are many powerful drugs that are used and when it’s recalcitrant surgery comes in.
“The most important thing is to spread the news that glaucoma runs in families. Anybody who knows relatives of one with glaucoma should come for eye check in any of the hospitals that have Ophthalmologists. Very importantly, do not put medicines that will destroy your eye because some of them destroy the optic nerve and make your matter worse. Do not put things in your eyes such as urine, breast milk or kerosene,” Nwosu advised.
Corraborating the disclosure, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the conference, Prof Nkiru Akariwe said that, “the south east zone has the highest prevalence of low vision, it also has the highest prevalence of glaucoma in the country, and highest prevalence of prestrous segment diseases and causes of blindness.
“It’s much of a genetic thing but for some other causes, there have not been much of intervention, like non governmental intervention in the South Eastern part of the country, it’s not about environmental factors.”
Governor Peter Mbah who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Chidiebere Onyia noted that the state government has been doing some health interventions in the state in it’s one year of administration.
The State Commissioner for Health, Prof Ike Obi noted that the state government has been supportive of Ophthalmology practice through its teaching hospital and hopes to make the services available in its State University of Health and Applied Sciences, Igboano.
