By Uzo Ugwunze—
The Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA), Anambra State Chapter, has taken its World Sight Day 2026 campaign to the Achina community in Aguata LGA, offering free eye screening, treatment, medication, and spectacles to residents in a renewed drive to prevent avoidable blindness.
The outreach, held on 9 September 2026 under this year’s global theme, “Love Your Eyes. Every Story Counts,” was led by the Chairman of the Anambra State Chapter, Dr. Chiamaka Mba.
She stated that the initiative was deliberately taken to the hinterland 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.
Dr. Mba explained that activities for the celebration started earlier in the week with radio and television awareness campaigns, where members educated the public on healthy eye habits and the dangers of harmful practices. The chapter also staged a Walk for Sight on Thursday before moving its full clinical team to Achina for the grand finale of free services.
At the venue, residents received comprehensive health checks, including blood pressure, intraocular pressure, and visual acuity tests. With a team of eight optometrists on the ground, the association set a target of attending to around 500 beneficiaries.
Dr. Mba noted that adult beneficiaries requiring near-vision support were given reading glasses, while children were assessed for special provisions and referrals.
“The association is also providing a full referral and follow-up pathway for cases beyond the scope of this outreach. Patients requiring further investigation and specialised care are being referred to designated eye centres for continued management.
Those diagnosed with cataracts and other surgical conditions are being registered and booked for surgery on designated surgical days, as cataract operations are not performed during field outreaches.”
Dr. Mba used the opportunity to warn against dangerous traditional practices, including instilling urine, breast milk, and fermented cassava water into the eyes. She explained that the eye has a natural flora that protects it, and introducing such substances disrupts this defence mechanism, potentially causing combined viral, fungal, and bacterial infections that may lead to permanent blindness.
She stressed that the first port of call for any eye problem should be a registered eye clinic rather than chemists or quacks, noting that optometrists undergo up to eight years of rigorous training. She urged patients to strictly adhere to prescribed medications and never stop halfway through without a doctor’s advice, as incomplete treatment worsens eye conditions.
Furthermore, she provided guidance on preventive care and regular examinations. According to her, children should have eye checks before starting school, teenagers and young adults up to the age of 27 should check every two years, adults aged 30 to 50 should check annually, and those aged 50 and above should check biannually due to a higher risk of hypertension, diabetes, and age-related diseases. Individuals with a family history of glaucoma should undergo examinations even more frequently, as advised by their doctor.
Addressing cost concerns, Dr. Mba said that eye care is inexpensive compared to the cost of blindness, and she urged Ndi Anambra to utilise general hospitals where optometrists are now posted across the state. She added that with the heavy use of phones and laptops, as well as prolonged exposure to sunlight, residents should seek professional advice on protective spectacles, know their family medical history, and embrace the campaign’s message to love their eyes by protecting and regularly examining them.
