BY OLUWATOSIN IGHOTEGUONO
Sight also known as vision is an integral part of the body which need urgent and adequate care to prevent blindness
This forms the basis for the annual celebration of the World Sight Day dedicated to underscore the importance of the Eye.
According to the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness, two billion people globally are either blind or visually impaired while 50% out of them need glasses to see while more than 75% of Visual Problems are avoidable
It is on this premise that the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness and the World Health Organization WHO coordinate and organise World Sight Day, WSD every year.
The global event draws attention towards blindness, visual impairments, prevention methods and consider the most important advocacy and communications event on the eyes care.
Speaking on the theme for this year’s World Sight day which is “LOVE YOUR EYES” , An Ondo State based consultant opthalmologist , Dr Adeyemi Akinwande said the day was to raise public awareness on eye care, describing it as a public health issue in face of ravaging COVID – 19 Pandemic.
Dr Akinwande who is also the chairman of the Opthalmologyl society of Nigeria, Ondo State explained that people must keep their eyes functioning well with good foods having nourished Vitamins, avoid putting dangerous objects in the eyes, abstinence from unprescribed medications as many infections could affect the eyes gradually leading to loss of vision.
Dr Akinwande who rated Nigerians low in regular eye check called on Parents and guardians to always undertake medical eye check for their children noting that some children were poor academically due to bad sight.
The medical expert also advised Nigerians to seek help from eye experts rather than patronizing Quacks that could worsen the eye conditions and advocated adequate funds for national blindness Prevention.
Dr Akinwande enjoined the people to refrain from frequent touching of their eyes in this pandemic so as not to contract covid 19 through it while also abiding by other precautionary measures as stipulated by the NCDC.
Positive fm also sought to know how some residents care for their eyes.
Mrs Hannah Adekemi, Lizzy Michael and Elizabeth Aghaleyah said they often set aside some amount of money to cater for their eyes every four to five months.
Other Residents, Mr Emmanuel Jonathan and Mrs Elizabeth Oludah who confessed they were guilty of buying glasses by roadsides promised to desist and would henceforth consult experts
They however appealed for more sensitization and awareness campaign to check rate of Blindness .