By Uzo Ugwunze—
Multiple Award Winner and one of the best Optometrists in Nigeria, Dr Chidiebere Ezeanowai, has advised citizens on the importance of observing good eye health habits to prevent blindness and other avoidable illnesses.
The Immediate past Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA) Anambra State chapter Chairman, Dr Ezeanowai, in a chat with our reporter, urged people to undergo regular health check-ups and endeavour to always visit the hospital for Proper medical examinations, advice and on the need to adhere to their drug prescriptions to avoid deterioration of their eye health, which can result in blindness.
According to Dr Ezeanowai, we joined the rest of the world to celebrate 2026 World Health Day held on the 7th of April, 2026, with the theme: Together for Health. “Standing with Science”.
“People need to observe good eye health habits. Eye health is something no one should take for granted. Self-medication, buying drugs or eye drops over the counter without seeing an optometrist or a professional eye doctor, can lead to irreversible complications or blindness.
“Some health conditions that affect the body also manifest in the eye, especially when not properly managed. Systemic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, Tuberculosis, Syphilis, Thyroid diseases and even HIV/AIDS can lead to vision-threatening eye conditions.
“Poorly controlled or poorly managed systemic hypertension can cause damages to the retina of one’s eyes in form of eye conditions known as Hypertensive retinopathy, Macular Edema, Retinal Arteries/Veins Occlusion, Optic Neuropathy, Choroidopathy and also increases one’s chances of coming down with Glaucoma of Primary Open Angle Type. Poorly controlled or poorly managed diabetes, on the other hand, can lead to what in medicine is referred to as Diabetic Eye Diseases, and these diseases are namely Diabetic Retinopathy, Neovascular Glaucoma, Retinal haemorrhages, Diabetic Macular Oedema, and can also affect the natural lenses of our eyes in the form of Cataract, mostly of the Posterior subcapsular type.
“The major ways one can prevent many of these systemic health conditions listed above from affecting one’s eyes are to make sure one undergoes regular health checkups and always endeavour to regularly visit the hospital for proper medical examinations.
Moreover, Dr Chidiebere Ezeanowai, one of the Nigerian Finest Optometrists, started his full Optometry practice at Iyi-Enu Mission Hospital, where he won the Best Staff of the Clinical/Medical support departments of the Hospital for three consecutive years, namely: 2020, 2021, and 2022.
Dr Ezeanowai, who was elected Anambra State Chairman of NOA on the 21st of June, 2023, during his tenure, led the State to win National awards two consecutive times. NOA Anambra chapter was crowned the best State in the whole of Nigeria when it comes to public Healthcare advocacy for the year 2023/2024 and 2024/2025.
In 2025, at the National Conference of all the Optometrists in Nigeria and at the diaspora held at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Umuahia, Abia State, Dr Ezeanowai was named the Best State Chairman of the Nigerian Optometric Association for the year 2024 and became the youngest Optometrist ever to have won such a prestigious award.
Dr Ezeanowai, who hails from the Uga community, Aguata Local Government Area, Anambra State did only one tenure as the State Chairman of NOA. He was able to achieve all these within the short period of 2 years and 8 months of his tenure.
Earlier, Dr Chidiebere Ezeanowai also distinguished himself as a seasoned Optometric Mentor for his colleagues across Nigeria. He was appointed the State Coordinator of the Family of Optometric mentors in 2019 and was charged with the responsibilities of upgrading the clinical knowledge and expertise of Optometrists in Anambra State.
In 2025, during the 10th Anniversary and annual national conference of the Family Optometric Mentor(FOM) held in Abuja, FCT, he was named the Best FOM mentor and Mentor of the year in the whole of Nigeria for the year 2025.
He also, as the State Coordinator of FOM Anambra State Chapter, led the State to clinch the best FOM State award in the whole of Nigeria in the year 2025.
Dr Chidiebere Ezeanowai, a pragmatic and diligent Optometric leader, is clinically proficient, shows leadership savvy and is also mentorship driven.
