Association provides free eye screening to FCT residents

The Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA) says it will provide a one week free eye screening to residents of the FCT.

This screening will be carried out in all eye clinics and government hospitals in the territory from March 12 to March 18.

Ozy Okonokhua, a member of NOA, said this during the association’s campaign to commemorate the World Glaucoma Week (WGW) in Abuja.

“Most government hospitals where they have optometrists have been sensitised to provide free services this week.

“All clinics in Abuja owned and run by Optometrists; Supreme Vision and Optic Care in Wuse. In Garki, we have Dr Hassan’s Hospital; any clinic where an optometrist is the owner and the manager they will provide free services for glaucoma.

“For glaucoma, they will screen you free. Glaucoma treatments can also be looked at. Our focus this week is to draw attention and create awareness on the dangers posed by glaucoma.

Okonokhua said that glaucoma leads to irreversible blindness, adding that the World Health Organization (WHO) set aside a week every year to create more awareness on it dangers.

He said that the week would enable professionals to provide the needed care to residents with glaucoma.

“As professionals in eye care, we generally try to encourage people who have any trace of glaucoma in their family to seek help early. We also try to encourage people especially those who are short sighted.

“Those who are by nature Africans and those who have tendency to have high blood pressure and those who have had any incidence of trauma to the eyes are at risk of developing glaucoma.

“So, we encourage everybody to seek help early enough. The earlier you seek help the more chances you have of not going completely blind due to glaucoma,” Okonokhua said.

World Glaucoma Week is celebrated in March of every year and the theme for this year’s celebration is ‘Beat Invisible Glaucoma’.