Say 2.2b people worldwide are visually impaired or blind

The Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA), Lagos State chapter, yesterday, said that it would take eye-health awareness directly into communities in the state to mark the 2026 World Sight Day.

The campaign awareness, themed “Love Your Eyes: Every Story Counts,” will bring optometrists and members of the public together through rally and awareness walks across Ikeja, Alimosho, Lagos Island and FESTAC zones.

However, after the walk, free eye screenings will be offered in Ikeja, Alimosho and Lagos Island, while an awareness walk with a visit to persons living with blindness will be done in FESTAC.

In a statement, Chairperson, NOA Lagos chapter, Dr Ghenorhe Ehimen, said the theme championed globally by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) places people and their lived experiences at the centre of the eye-health conversation, highlighting how every individual’s experience with good or poor vision contributes to the larger story of eye health.

Ehimen, while quoting the World Health Organisation (WHO) data, noted that about 2.2 billion people worldwide live with a near or distance vision impairment.

“Over one billion of these cases could have been prevented or are yet to be addressed. 4.2 per cent of Nigerian adults aged 40 are blind (about 1.13 million people). 4.25 million Nigerian adults aged 40 are visually impaired and blind.

“Vision impairment affects millions of people worldwide, with many cases preventable or treatable when identified and managed early. In Nigeria, avoidable causes of blindness and visual impairment continue to affect individuals, families, education, work and independence. NOA Lagos is encouraging Lagos residents to pay attention to their eye health and seek professional care before a minor concern becomes a serious problem.

“Every story counts because every pair of eyes counts. Behind the statistics are real people whose education, work, independence and quality of life can be affected by vision loss. This World Sight Day, we are asking Nigerians to love their eyes by taking action before a problem becomes a crisis,” said Ehimen.