The Head of Department of Opthamology, University of Ilorin, Professor (Mrs) Adepoju Feyi has said that eight out of 10 blind persons in Nigeria have avoidable blindness.
Professor Feyi said a lot of blindness cases in Nigeria could have been prevented or treated if the idea of regular check up and other preventive measures are imbibed.
She disclosed this on Saturday (August 18, 2018) in her lecture titled ‘Insight for Sight’ during the 30th year anniversary of the old students of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilorin, who graduated from the school in 1988, held at Mustapha Akanbi Hall, G. R. A Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
The Professor of Opthamology said it is unacceptable that so large number of people have avoidable blindness when their blindness could have averted.
She called on Nigerians to develop positive attitude towards regular check up by ensuring that they check the vision and status of their ayes at least once in every year.
According to her, there are so many eyes diseases that can cause blindness but if they are dictected early, they can be readily treated and blindness will be avoided.
Professor Feyi called on well meaning Nigerians to inculcate habit of supporting indigent people with eyes problems who cannot afford eye care by providing them with community eye screening and treatment as a way of giving back to the community.
She commended the 1988 set of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilorin for coming together to give back to their University and the society in general.
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