From Abdul Salaudeen, Ilorin
Community service provider, Alhaji Azeez Amuda, has advised Nigerians to examine their eyes regularly at least once a year.
Speaking yesterday at this year’s Press Week of the Correspondents Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, in Ilorin, he warned against visiting quacks and small chemists to seek eye treatment, saying they could be misled.
“Just like conjunctivitis in newborns, in which babies bring out discharge from their eyes and mothers are advised to insert breast milk to clear the eyes, this can lead to complete blindness”, he explained.
Amuda, therefore, advised the people to always visit hospitals and eye experts before treating their eye problems and getting eye glasses.
He added that high blood pressure could add to eye problems, asserting that there is the need to monitor patients blood pressure while treating their eye defects.
Amuda emphasized the need for the eyes to be checked at least annually, saying glaucoma is a very serious issue that does not give signs and could lead to cataract and eventually 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 ones diet in order to have good vision, listing mango, palm oil, dry fish and other things that contain protein and calcium, which are good for vision.
He, however, said immunisation should be given to children from birth to the age of five, saying if children get measles, it might lead to blindness, and Vitamin A is also important.
Amuda also talked about personal hygiene, especially at home, urging mothers to be neat and very observant about children, especially babies and toddlers.
