Cross River Govt provides free eye tests, surgeries to 32,000

• As 1.8m Nigerians suffer glaucoma

The Cross River State Government has strengthened its health facilities to provide succor for the impaired citizens of the state. Thus, over 32,000 persons were said to have been penciled down to benefit from state government’s free eye tests and surgeries in commemoration of the 2019 world glaucoma week.

The surgery which is in collaboration with the University Of Calabar Teaching Hospital and some international partners will cover the 18 local government areas of the state.

Commissioner for Health, Inyang Asibong, at the flag off of the exercise at the headquarters of the Ministry of Health, Calabar, Cross River State, noted that the effort was part of the state universal health coverage target in 2030.

The commissioner explained that most blindness were caused by unchecked glaucoma symptoms; he counseled residents in the state to make use of the opportunity to check their eyes to enjoy the free services.

Medical personnel who were administering checks on the patients explained the causes and prevention of glaucoma as well as measures needed to take when strange symptoms are noticed in the eye.

Glaucoma which has affected over 1.8 million Nigerians of 40 years and above is a disease of the optic nerve of the eye, which relays what the eye sees to the brain. If left unchecked, it will continue to damage the structure which may lead to visual field defects, visual impairment, and complete blindness.