A Community Service Provider and Eye Expert in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, Alhaji Azeez Amuda, has warned Nigerians against patronising quacks and unregistered chemists to complain about their eye challenges, saying that they could be misled and face the risk of getting blind due the wrong medications.
The Eye Expert dropped these warnings while addressing members of the Correspondent’s Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ), during the Health Talk Programme organised by the chapel to commence the day one activities marking it’s Press week.
According to him, eyes should be well taken care of and examined regularly, at least once in a year by qualified eye experts.
‘There are several cases of people who listen to here says on how to care for their eyes, but end up losing their both eyes.
‘Just like conjunctivitis in newborns, in which babies bring out discharge in their eyes and mothers are advised to insert breast milk to clear the eyes, which can lead to complete blindness,’ he said.
The
expert therefore advised people to always visit hospitals and eyes expert before taking any step in treating their eye problems and getting eye glasses.
He added that high blood pressure could add to the problem of eye problems, saying that there was a need to monitor patients’ blood pressure while treating their eyes problems.
Amuda stressed the need for the eyes to be checked at least annually, saying that glaucoma is a very serious issue that does not give a signal and could lead to cataract and eventual blindness.
He advised that the eyes should be given some rest every one hour by closing it for a few minutes before continuing with viewing things.
The expert also talked about monitoring diet in order to have good vision, listing mango fruit, palm oil, dry fish, and other things that contain protein and calcium, which are good for vision.
He however said that immunisation should be given to children from birth to the age of five years, saying that if children are attacked with measles, it might lead
to blindness, adding that Vitamin A is also important.
Amuda also talked about personal hygiene, especially at home, urging mothers to be neat, tidy, and very observant on children, especially babies and toddlers.
Members of the chapel later had their eyes examined while those with little or major challenges were referred to an eye clinic or an opthalmologist.
Source: Voice of Nigeria