A Consultant Ophthalmologist at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Dr. Bassey Etim, has said an estimated 1.13 million Nigerians aged 40 and above are currently blind.
Etim said this in Calabar, the Cross River State capital during a recent workshop on ‘Low Vision’ for optometrists, ophthalmologists and ophthalmic nurses organised the National Eye Health Programme in conjunction with the International Centre for Eyecare Education.
He said out of that figure, the North-West geo-political zone had the highest number of blind adults (28.6 per cent), being the zone with the largest population.
Etim further said 2.7 million adults were estimated to have moderate visual impairment with an additional 400, 000 persons being severely visually impaired, thus bringing to a total of 4.25 million adults in Nigeria that are either visually impaired or blind.
The ophthalmologist described low vision as a condition of diminished vision which is not correctable by standard glasses, contact lens, medication or surgery; adding that it disrupts a person’s ability to perform common age visual tasks.
According to him, in Nigeria, untreated cataract is the commonest cause of low vision and blindness, while 84 per cent of visual impairment in Nigeria either preventable or treatable.
Also speaking at the event, the Sub-regional Manager, West Africa of ICEE, Dr. Anne Ebri, said over 124 million people globally had low vision, adding that the figures would double over the next two to three decades.
She said traditionally low vision services had come under neglect as practitioners had very limited skills with inaccessibility to assessment tools and devices.
She said NEHP in collaboration with ICEE, the Cross River State Ministry of Health and the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital had trained 45 practitioners that provide low vision services in 34 tertiary and secondary institutions in the country. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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