As Nigeria and other countries mark this year’s World Sight Day today, it is important for the nation’s policy makers and health authorities to consider the increasing number of blind people in the country and institute policies to reverse the trend.
Media reports on blindness have put the population of blind people in Nigeria at well over one million, with about three million others visually impaired. Sadly, most cases of blindness in the country are said to be due to preventable causes.
Government should rise to the challenge and map out pragmatic strategies to check this problem. Available statistics from the Federal Ministry of Health show that 42 out of every 100 adults above the age of 40 are visually impaired in the country.
The Lagos State branch of the Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA) also confirmed that over one million Nigerian adults are blind, while three million are visually impaired. Two out of every three blind Nigerians lost their sight to preventable causes such as cataract, which is single commonest cause of blindness.
Similarly, the Country Representative of a non-governmental organisation, Sightsavers, Dr. Elizabeth Elhassan, said Nigerians now account for one in five blind Africans.
The survey indicates the urgency of the need to increase access to eye care as well as the importance of reaching people who are illiterate.
Globally, over 45 million people are blind, while 135 million have severe visual impairment. Nigeria is said to be one of the countries with the highest number of blind people.
Medical experts say that about 80 percent of the blindness in the country could have been prevented if necessary measures were taken to prevent the condition. It is good that the federal health authorities are already aware of the magnitude of the problem and that most of the blindness and visual impairment in the country are from preventable causes.
The health authorities in the country should embark on mass sensitization programmes to enlighten the public on the causes, treatment and preventive measures. The state and local government health authorities should also be part of the campaign to rid the country of blindness and visual impairment,
or curb them to a large extent. The enlightenment messages should be in English, major Nigerian languages and Pidgin. Town criers should also be used to disseminate life-saving information on eye care.
It is necessary to ensure early identification and diagnosis of eye conditions, as well as referrals of patients to competent specialists, where necessary. Early detection is important in treatment.
Let the nation’s health authorities use this year’s World Sight Day to remind all Nigerians about the importance of eye care and the need for regular eye checks. Those that are 40 years and above are advised to check their eyes at appropriate health facilities at least once a year. In fact, all Nigerians should endeavour to check their eyes regularly.
Those living within the river blindness zones of the country should do whatever is necessary to exterminate tse-tse flies, which transmit the disease. Government should also provide potable water for highly endemic areas. People should be educated on preventive measures.
Since regular medical checks help to ensure good eye care, we enjoin members of the public, especially the ageing ones, to present themselves
for these checks. Let our public health experts look into the various causes of blindness including glaucoma and cataract, and see what can be done to reduce their incidence in the country. The public
should be advised on foods, fruits and vegetables that improve eye health.
Let us use this year’s World Sight Day to reduce the growing statistics of the blind in the country. Above all, let government increase access to eye care facilities throughout the country.

Nigeria’s startling statistics on blindness