Health experts warn that Nigeria risks a blindness crisis as 23 million citizens battle eye problems, urging urgent government investment in preventive and accessible eye care.
Nigeria is lagging behind in the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) global campaign to eliminate avoidable blindness, health experts have warned. They estimate that about 23 million Nigerians suffer from various eye conditions, including glaucoma, cataract, and refractive errors, with one in four citizens at risk of vision loss.
Speaking at a free medical outreach in Abeokuta organised by the Nigeria Optometric Association (NOA), Ogun State chapter, and Restore Foundation for Child Sight, experts said over 600 patients received free surgeries, eye tests, and eyeglasses. NOA chairman, Dr. Chinedu Adelanwa, lamented that despite WHO’s “Vision 2020: The Right to Sight” initiative, Nigeria has not made the expected progress. He attributed this to poor funding, lack of equipment, and limited access to rural healthcare.
“Eye health is not just a medical issue, it is a national development issue,” Adelanwa said. Experts called for government investment, integration of eye care into primary healthcare, and stronger public awareness.