World Sight Day: Stop putting urine in your eyes -Optometrists Warn Nigerians

 ….As 500 citizens get free eye Care in Anambra

By Cyprian Ebele, Onitsha

No fewer than 500 residents of Achina community in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State have benefited from free eye care services provided by the Nigerian Optometrist Association (NOA), Anambra State Chapter, as part of activities marking World Sight Day 2026.

The medical outreach, organized under the global theme, “Love Your Eyes. Every Story Counts,” was aimed at preventing avoidable blindness and extending professional eye care to underserved communities with limited access to specialized medical services.

Speaking during the exercise, the Chairman of the association’s Anambra State Chapter, Chiamaka Mba, said Achina was deliberately chosen to ensure that residents in rural communities benefited from essential eye care services often more accessible to people in urban centres.

“We came all the way to Achina because we want to reach the interior villages. Most people in urban areas have access, but those in the interior face restrictions,” she said.

Mba explained that the association commenced activities for the 2026 celebration earlier in the week with radio and television sensitisation programmes through which members educated the public on proper eye care, healthy visual habits and the dangers of harmful practices.

She said the activities also included a Walk for Sight held on Thursday before the association deployed its clinical team to Achina for the grand finale, during which residents received free medical examinations and other eye care services.

According to her, eight optometrists participated in the outreach, attending to approximately 500 beneficiaries who underwent various examinations, including blood pressure checks, intraocular pressure measurements and visual acuity tests.

She added that adults requiring assistance with near vision were assessed for reading glasses, while children who needed additional attention were evaluated for appropriate intervention or referral.

The NOA chairman disclosed that the association had established a referral and follow-up process for patients whose conditions required further investigations or specialized treatment beyond the scope of the outreach.

Mba said patients diagnosed with cataracts and other conditions requiring surgery were being registered and scheduled for treatment at designated centres, explaining that surgical procedures were not performed during field outreaches.

She used the occasion to warn residents against applying unapproved traditional substances, including urine, breast milk and fermented cassava water, to their eyes, describing such practices as potentially dangerous.

According to her, introducing these substances into the eyes can disrupt their natural protective mechanisms and expose patients to infections that may result in severe complications, including permanent blindness.

She urged members of the public to seek professional attention at registered eye clinics whenever they experience eye problems rather than resorting to self-medication, patent medicine dealers or unqualified practitioners.

Mba emphasised that proper diagnosis and treatment by qualified professionals were essential to protecting sight, adding that patients should follow prescribed medication instructions and avoid discontinuing treatment without consulting their doctors.

On preventive care, she recommended that children undergo eye examinations before starting school, while teenagers and young adults up to the age of 27 should have their eyes checked every two years, subject to individual medical advice.

She further advised adults aged between 30 and 50 to undergo annual eye examinations, while those aged 50 and above should have their eyes checked twice a year because of their increased vulnerability to age-related eye conditions and complications associated with hypertension and diabetes.

The NOA chairman also urged people with a family history of glaucoma to undergo eye examinations more frequently as recommended by their doctors, noting that early detection and timely intervention could help prevent avoidable vision loss.

Addressing concerns about the cost of eye care, Mba maintained that the expense of preventive examinations and timely treatment was far lower than the physical, social and economic consequences of blindness.

She encouraged residents to take advantage of the services provided by general hospitals across Anambra State, where optometrists had been posted to improve access to professional eye care.

Mba also advised residents who spend long hours using mobile phones and laptops or are frequently exposed to intense sunlight to seek professional guidance on appropriate protective eyewear.

She urged the public to know their family medical history, prioritise routine eye examinations and adopt healthier visual habits, stressing that protecting sight requires consistent attention rather than waiting until serious symptoms develop.

The association reaffirmed the importance of community-based eye care initiatives in reaching underserved populations, promoting early diagnosis and reducing the burden of avoidable blindness.

The outreach formed part of the association’s broader effort to raise awareness about eye health and encourage residents to embrace the World Sight Day message by protecting their vision and seeking professional care when necessary.