The Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA), Anambra State Chapter, has taken its 2026 World Sight Day campaign to Achina community in Aguata Local Government Area, providing free eye screening, treatment, medication and spectacles to residents as part of efforts to prevent avoidable blindness.
The outreach, held under this year’s global theme, “Love Your Eyes. Every Story Counts,” was led by the Chairman of the Association’s Anambra State Chapter, Dr. Chiamaka Mba.
The campaign featured a Walk for Sight, followed by a grand finale in Achina, where the Association deployed its clinical team to provide free eye care services to residents.
Speaking during the exercise, Dr. Mba said the Association deliberately chose a rural community to reach underserved populations with limited access to professional eye care.
“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.
According to her, activities marking the celebration began earlier in the week with radio and television sensitisation programmes through which members educated the public on healthy eye habits and the dangers of harmful practices.
At the outreach venue, residents received comprehensive eye examinations, including blood pressure checks, intraocular pressure measurements and visual acuity tests.
With eight optometrists on ground, the Association targeted approximately 500 beneficiaries. Adults requiring near-vision support received reading glasses, while children were assessed for appropriate interventions and referrals.
Dr. Mba explained that residents diagnosed with cataracts and other conditions requiring surgery were being registered and scheduled for treatment on designated surgical days, as such procedures could not be performed during field outreaches.
She warned against dangerous traditional practices, including putting urine, breast milk or fermented cassava water into the eyes, noting that such substances could disrupt the eye’s natural protective mechanisms and expose it to infections that may cause permanent blindness.
The NOA chairman urged residents to seek professional attention at registered eye clinics rather than patronising unqualified practitioners or relying on chemists for eye-related conditions.
She noted that optometrists undergo extensive professional training to qualify and stressed the importance of adhering strictly to prescribed medication. Patients, she added, should not discontinue treatment without consulting their doctors, as incomplete treatment could worsen their conditions.
On preventive eye care, Dr. Mba advised parents to ensure that children undergo eye examinations before starting school. She recommended eye checks every two years for teenagers and young adults up to age 27, annual examinations for adults aged 30 to 50, and twice-yearly checks for people aged 50 and above.
She also urged people with a family history of glaucoma to undergo examinations more frequently as advised by their eye care professionals.
Addressing concerns about the cost of eye care, Dr. Mba maintained that the cost of preventive and professional eye care was far less than the consequences of blindness. She encouraged Ndi Anambra to take advantage of general hospitals across the state where optometrists had been posted to provide services.
She further advised residents who spend long hours using phones and laptops or are frequently exposed to sunlight to seek professional guidance on appropriate protective spectacles. Knowing one’s family medical history and undergoing regular eye examinations, she said, were essential steps towards preserving sight.
The Association also established a referral and follow-up pathway for beneficiaries requiring specialised attention. Patients needing further investigations and advanced treatment were referred to designated eye centres for continued care.
Dr. Mba urged residents to embrace the message of the World Sight Day campaign by prioritising their eye health, avoiding harmful practices and seeking timely professional attention to prevent avoidable visual impairment and blindness.
