Using urine, milk as eye treatment may cause blindness — Ophthalmologist

An Ophthalmologist, Dr. Zainab Akinbode, has warned Ondo residents to desist from the traditional use of urine and milk to treat eye defects.

Speaking in Akure, the Ondo State capital, during a two-day free healthcare outreach conducted by the Philips Diagnostic Centre, Dr. Zainab lamented the alarming rate at which people now embrace the orthodox way of treating eye problems that have aided total blindness among those engaging in the practice.

According to her, recent findings revealed that most of the patients who came for fresh check-ups already had their eyes damaged as a result of these traditional eye medications

“As an ophthalmologist, we see a lot of patients using traditional eye medication on their eyes with things like nursing mothers putting breast milk on their children’s eyes, people putting urine, onions, leaves, sugar water, and all sorts of things.

While speaking in Akure, the Ondo State capital, during a two-day free healthcare outreach conducted by t it was advised that traditional eye medication must be stopped to reduce blindness.
“These things have caused a lot of defects in their eyes. Some people have even gone blind because of this. Generally, it is being said, and it is true, that prevention is better than cure, so the best thing to do is to health educate them against such harmful practices.

“Outreaches like this are one of the ways of sensitising the people against using substances in their eyes. Part of the main challenges we also have is due to the cost of healthcare, so people visit all sorts of places, and they put all sorts in their eyes.”

The Philips Diagnostic Centre conducted malaria testing, blood pressure checks, free glasses, and eye drops for people of the state

Facility manager, Emmanuel Awopetu said the initiative was to address the healthcare needs of the people due to the rising cost of medical care and to raise awareness on the importance of regular health checkups.

“It is also our own way of corporate social responsibility. “Making people happy in our own little way is something we consider to be too important. Hundreds of people will be benefiting from the program. It is also our founder’s day. The cost expended on the initiative is in millions.

“We urge people that when they have an ailment, it is important to visit diagnostic centres because it comes first before any other medical procedures. It is after the proper investigations have been done that you will know who to see,” he said.