Anambra Govt. Offers Free Eye Screening, Surgery To Residents
Over 100 people have benefitted from Anambra Government’s free eye screening and cataract surgeries.
The exercise was aimed at launching the state’s first Eye Care Centre, located at Nise town.
Head of Anambra State Eye Care Centre, Dr Ikenna Mbakigwe, told newsmen on Tuesday in Awka that the establishment of the centre would be of immense benefit to the residents.
“We have carried out free eye screening for more than 100 residents, to launch the first and only government-owned eye care centre in the state.
“Out of the 100 patients, 11 were confirmed to have cataract, while five were selected and found eligible for free surgeries,” he said.
Mbakigwe described cataract as an age-related ailment of the eye and the leading cause of blindness in the state and the country.
“There is a lens that God has put in the eyes and as you get older, the lens becomes cloudy. The cloudiness is what we call cataract.
“Cataract increases with age, which is why as some people grow older, they do not see clearly. When that happens, you need to remove the lens via surgery. So, cataract is treatable to avoid blindness.
“Glaucoma, which is another common eye disease, causes irreversible blindness but if caught early, with regular eyes, the progression could be delayed,” he said.
The expert said that too much exposure to sunlight, diabetes and trauma to the eyes were some of the factors that could cause or hasten cataract formation.
He urged the residents to prioritise their eye health by visiting the facility for eye screening, at least, once in a year.
“The eye is a very important organ which has capacity to withstand problems.
“If you do not come to check your eyes regularly, by the time it starts manifesting the problem, it means it can no longer bear the problem and it is about giving up.
“So, you do not have to wait until you start having serious eye problems before you go for check-up,” he said.
NAN/Oyenike Oyeniyi
