The Nigeria Optometrist Association, NOA, have identified uncorrected refraction error as one of the most common eye challenges affecting children all over the globe.
The association made this known at the weekend during the flag off of free visual screening program which formed part of the its week-long activities commemorating the 2024 Word Sight Day.
It disclosed that efforts to engage the State Ministry of Health, relevant stakeholders and agencies to accelerate the visual screening exercise and to ensure that schools in hard-to-reach areas of the state are also captured in the program, are in the pipeline.
Led by it state chairperson, Dr. Grace Ahams-Akor, the association explained that the aim is not just to identify children who have uncorrected eye refraction error, but to also ensure that pupils were given the right glasses and prescriptions.
Stressing the importance of clear vision, specifically among children, Ahams-Akor noted that a child’s vision determines his self esteem, his confidence and the way he relate with people.
She urged parents to cultivate the habit of yearly evaluation of their children’s eyes, maintaining that a pair of spectacles was the simplest and easiest health intervention that could be given to a child.
The association which said it had earlier reached out to some schools within the state capital to sensitize children on certain hazards they need to avoid to protect their eyes, said there are lots of childhood injuries that can lead to blindness.
“With the support of our national body, we have here with us enough glasses and we intend to go to various schools in the state to carry out this exercise.
“When a child fails the visual activity test, we subject the child to further examination and the result tells us weather the child deserves to be given glasses or be recommended for further treatment,” she explained.
Also speaking, the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Bordiya G. Buma, announced that the state government, under the leadership of Governor Agbu Kefas, would continue to support the association to succeed.
The commissioner urged parents and children to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the association and to always go on regular eye checks to keep their eyes healthy at all times.
Uncorrected eye refraction error, a major challenge for children – Optometrist Association
