The Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria (OSN), Rivers State Chapter, has urged residents to undergo regular eye examinations to prevent avoidable blindness and other vision-related problems.
The society gave the advice as it joined the Rivers State Eye Health Committee and the global community to commemorate World Sight Day 2026, with the theme, “Love Your Eyes: Every Story Counts.”
Diamond Tonye-Obene, Public Relations Officer of OSN, in a statement said the team, led by its Chairman, Dr. Godswill Nathaniel, and the committee’s chairman, Dr. Alex Atamah-Pepple, made the call during a courtesy visit to the Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr. Vincent Nwachukwu.
World Sight Day is observed to raise awareness about blindness and visual impairment as major public health concerns.
The society noted that more than 1.13 million people in Nigeria were blind, while millions of others suffered from visual impairment caused by conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, childhood blindness and uncorrected refractive errors.
It stressed that many of these conditions could be prevented or treated through early detection and appropriate medical care.
According to the society, undetected vision problems continue to affect children’s academic performance, while adults risk losing their sight to glaucoma without regular eye examinations.
“In Rivers State, we continue to see children struggling in school due to undetected poor vision, adults going blind from glaucoma because they never checked their eyes, and diabetic patients losing sight because they presented late,” the statement said.
It also warned that people living with diabetes could suffer vision loss if they delayed seeking medical attention.
The ophthalmologists advised residents to have their eyes examined annually, noting that glaucoma often develops without early warning signs.
They also urged parents to take their children for eye checks, while people living with diabetes or hypertension were advised to undergo regular eye examinations.
The society further cautioned residents against purchasing eye drops from patent medicine stores without a prescription and encouraged people with cataracts to seek medical treatment, noting that cataract surgery could restore sight.
As part of activities marking the occasion, the OSN Rivers State Chapter, in collaboration with the Rivers State Eye Health Committee and its partners, is conducting free eye screenings at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) and Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), alongside public enlightenment activities across the state.
The society reiterated its call on residents to prioritise eye health through regular screening, early diagnosis and timely treatment.
