The Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria (OSN) has revealed that more than two million Nigerians are living with avoidable blindness, largely caused by cataracts.
The vice-president of the OSN, Abubakar Rafindadi, a professor, disclosed this on Wednesday at a press briefing ahead of the 51st Annual General Meeting and Annual Scientific Conference, Abuja ASO 2026, scheduled for 2 to 4 September in Abuja.
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Mr Rafindadi said that despite ongoing efforts to tackle avoidable blindness, the country has not attained the cataract surgical rates required to reduce the burden significantly.
“The statistics have not changed dramatically. We are still fighting a heavy burden of avoidable blindness, with over two million people having avoidable blindness, mainly cataracts, despite the efforts we are making.
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“We are not matching the required cataract surgical rates that we need,” he said.
The OSN vice-president, however, said the country had recorded significant progress in ophthalmic training, technology, and service delivery since its last annual conference.
Establishment of centres
Mr Rafindadi identified the establishment of simulation centres in Lagos and Ibadan as one of the major developments, saying the facilities would enable ophthalmologists to improve their skills in cataract and vitreoretinal surgery.
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He said the society had also expanded the integration of eye care into primary healthcare, with the number of states participating in the programme increasing from 14 to 21.
According to him, more than 2,500 primary healthcare workers have been trained under the programme, including during a recent exercise in Bauchi State.
He said the society was also exploring technology, including tele-screening and artificial intelligence, to extend quality eye care to rural communities and underserved populations in urban centres.
Mr Rafindadi noted that although Nigeria had become increasingly urbanised, many people living in underserved communities within major cities still faced difficulties accessing quality eye care.
He said, “We are trying to see how we can adopt the new technological innovations to reach the rural populace and also the underserved populace within the metropolis.
“We are looking at how we can use technology to bridge these gaps through things like tele-screening, artificial intelligence technology, and so on.”
The OSN Vice-President also highlighted improvements in the availability of ophthalmic equipment and advanced surgical services, noting that posterior segment surgeries were now being offered in several parts of the country where such services were previously unavailable.
He said centres in Benin, Lagos, Ibadan, Kaduna, and Kano were among those providing advanced posterior segment surgical services.
Mr Rafindadi said the society was also concerned about the shortage and uneven distribution of ophthalmologists and other eye-care professionals across the country.
He attributed the concentration of specialists in major population centres partly to insecurity and inadequate employment opportunities in rural areas.
According to him, state and local governments must increase the employment of ophthalmologists, optometrists, opticians, and ophthalmic nurses to ensure equitable distribution of eye-care services.
He further disclosed that more than 1.5 million reading glasses had been distributed under the Jigibola 2.0 initiative, with a target of five million by 2027.
Harmful practices
On the dangers of harmful traditional eye practices, Mr Rafindadi urged Nigerians to avoid unverified substances and treatments that could lead to irreversible vision loss.
He said the society was working with the government and traditional medicine institutions to identify practices that could be safely integrated into healthcare while eliminating harmful ones.
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“We must keep talking to the public. Please don’t go to these people. They should be aware that these practices can be harmful and can cause irreversible loss of vision to them,” he said.
The OSN said it would conduct more than 500 free cataract surgeries as part of activities leading up to the 51st Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference.
The cataract surgery outreach, which is scheduled for 27 and 28 August, with the possibility of extending to 29 August if necessary, is expected to benefit patients screened and selected from various centres in the Federal Capital Territory and neighbouring areas.
The Society said more than 500 patients had already been selected and medically assessed as fit for surgery.
The conference, themed “Re-imaging Eye Care in the Digital Era,” will focus on the application of artificial intelligence, tele-ophthalmology, digital diagnostics, and other emerging technologies to improve access to eye care in Nigeria.
Mr Rafindadi said the society would use the conference to develop evidence-based recommendations and a strategic roadmap for improving eye care delivery in the country.
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