Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
At least 24 million Nigerians are currently living with sight loss, the Vice Chancellor of David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (DUFUHS), Uburu, Prof. Jesse Uneke, has revealed.
Uneke, a Professor of Medical Parasitology and Health Policy/Health Systems, disclosed this during a press briefing at the unveiling of the university’s Free Eye Care Initiative and Eye Research Programme at the Institute for Eye Health and Visual Sciences Research (IEHVSR) in Ebonyi State.
Citing findings from the Nigeria National Blindness and Visual Impairment Survey, he said about 4.2% of Nigerians above 40 years are blind, while an estimated 4.25 million adults in the same age group suffer from moderate to severe visual impairment.
The Vice Chancellor noted that 84% of blindness in Nigeria is due to preventable causes, stressing the importance of regular eye checks, public awareness, and affordable treatment.
“Blindness in Nigeria is associated with increasing age, being female, and poor literacy. Sadly, 84% of blindness cases are avoidable,” he explained.
According to him, cataracts and uncorrected refractive errors remain the leading causes of visual impairment, while glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, infectious eye diseases, and trauma also contribute significantly.
He emphasized that limited access to basic eye care in low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria worsens the burden, particularly among rural dwellers.
To address the crisis, Uneke said DUFUHS, with support from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), established the Ultramodern Eye Centre and IEHVSR—a state-of-the-art facility for research, training, and patient care.
Through its Free Eye Care Initiative, he revealed, the university has treated 2,412 patients since February 2025. These include 1,352 cases of refractive errors, 627 cataracts, 168 glaucoma cases, and 265 other eye conditions. In addition, 400 reading glasses and 600 prescription glasses were distributed free of charge.
He explained that the DUFUHS Eye Centre operates with a multidisciplinary team of ophthalmologists, optometrists, nurses, biomedical engineers, and ICT experts to expand access to eye care, especially in rural areas of Ebonyi State and beyond.
The Centre, he added, aligns with the World Health Organization’s SPECS 2030 initiative, which seeks to expand global access to quality and affordable refractive error services.
Its primary objectives include improving accessibility to eye care in rural communities, raising awareness about regular eye examinations, providing affordable solutions for the less privileged, and developing sustainable long-term strategies for vision care.
Prof. Uneke assured that DUFUHS would continue to strengthen its training, research, and community health programmes in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with the ultimate goal of reversing both medical and educational tourism.
