As visual impairment continues to surge in society, a university don, Professor Chimdi M. Chuka-Okosa, has identified refractive error, glaucoma, diabetes, and other conditions as major causes of visual impairment.

Professor Chuka-Okosa therefore advocated regular eye check-ups to prevent visual impairment, stating that one out of seven persons in the world is battling with some form of visual impairment, and emphasizing that good vision is essential for security.

Chuka-Okosa, a Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, gave the advice on Tuesday during the celebration of the 2025 World Sight Day at the Institute of Eye Health and Visual Sciences Research (IEHVSR), David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu, Ebonyi State.

Speaking on the theme “Love Your Eyes,” Professor Chuka-Okosa urged participants to love their eyes and take good care of them, noting that “you can’t do anything without your eyes.” He stated that good vision is essential for security, enhances economic well-being, and improves academic performance.

Recommending solutions to visual impairment, Professor Chuka-Okosa called for regular eye check-ups to avoid refractive errors, eating a balanced diet, engaging in exercise, and avoiding wrong prescriptions and the use of breast milk to treat eye problems.

Speaking on “The Role of Pathologists in the Prevention of Avoidable Blindness Due to Neglected Tropical Diseases,” a Consultant Pathologist, Dr. Kiran Ekochin, explained that the contributions of pathologists to patient healthcare are numerous, including accurate diagnosis and quality patient care, prognosis and prediction, multidisciplinary patient treatment approaches, tumour board participation, morbidity and mortality meetings, disease monitoring and treatment response assessment, cancer screening, and research, among others.

He noted that the World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes 21 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and has a roadmap to control and eradicate these diseases by 2030.

Delivering a lecture on “The Critical Role of Children’s Vision and Eye Health in Ensuring Readiness for Learning, Development, and Lifelong Well-being,” Dr. Jennifer C. Obani from the Department of Optometry, DUFUHS, said vision is both an eye and brain function, adding that the eye develops through the embryonic stage to birth, and that visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and colour vision are not fully developed until about five years of age.

She explained that visual cortex development occurs rapidly in early childhood. Dr. Obani recommended paediatric eye examinations at birth, vision screening before school entry, and teacher training to recognize visual issues, among others.

Earlier in his keynote address, the Vice Chancellor of David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu, Professor Jesse Uneke, appreciated participants for their active roles and contributions toward ensuring quality healthcare delivery in the country, stating that the Institute for Eye Health and Visual Sciences Research (IEHVSR) has offered free eye treatment to 2,412 patients.

Professor Uneke, who was represented by a senior lecturer at DUFUHS, Dr. Richard Nnabu, stated that the free eye services began in February when the centre was launched to assist rural dwellers and indigent persons in society, noting that patients from different parts of the country have been coming to access free medical treatment.