...Takes the secure sight sensitisation, screening and treatment to primary schools with Suleiman Ribadu Academy as beneficiary
….The Day focuses on children’s eyes, where ophthalmologists call for greater awareness about the child’s needs and the need for teachers' participation in pupils' eye care
...Urges teachers to encourage students to use their recommended glasses regularly, to observe the behaviour of pupils and students as regards to their eyesight
…The theme for this World Sight Day, observed annually on the second Thursday of October, is ‘Children, love your eyes,’ focusing on eliminating preventable blindness
...The focus is on the eye health status of children; Eye is important in the teaching and learning process hence it is necessary to give importance to the children's eye
….It is important for us educators to understand the need for giving serious attention to our students and pupils' eyesight - Maryam Bashir Ribadu
The Periscope Global
Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital, MAUTH Yola, Adamawa state Nigeria, represented by the Ophthalmology Department, participated in the sensitisation and eye screening activities to mark the 2024 World Sight Day celebrated every second Thursday in the month of October.
"Love Your Eyes Kids," a theme that resonated with the Global Initiative of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and Vision 2020, aims to highlight the importance of eye health and vision care globally. It encourages people to reduce avoidable blindness, promote equitable access to quality eye care and address rising cases of vision impairment.
At a time when there is higher emphasis on digital education, ophthalmologists are advising parents to reduce their children’s use of electronic gadgets. Dr. Dahiru Ribadu consultant ophthalmologist and DCMAC with Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital, MAUTH Yola, Adamawa state leading the sensitisation team to Suleiman Ribadu Academy says: "There's growing increase to the access to digital devices. It is safer when children go out and plays. The eyes are completely at rest when we are watching distant objects or are sleeping".
Ribadu, joined other ophthalmologists to advise parents to keep their children away from digital devices at least two hours before sleep to prevent disturbed sleep cycles.
"Don’t postpone wearing glasses," Dr Mustapha Tajuddeen, a consultant ophthalmologist and the head of ophthalmology department, MAUTH Yola would advise.
“Just as we all know our weight and height, we should also know our visual acuity,” he said, where he called on the government and nongovernmental organisations to join in promoting eye health.
A tilt of the head, squinting, a white spot in the cornea or pupil, narrowing of the eyes, holding the book close to the face are indications of poor sight.
He called for awareness about allergies, saying, “There's a significant population of children who are predisposed to ocular allergy. It could be seasonal or perineal. Some of them could be associated with conditions of cornea, which we call Keratoconous. It is a controllable and preventable condition”.
Keratoconous is an abnormality in the shape of the cornea. The cornea becomes thin in some parts and there is treatment for the condition, he explained, “some severe allergies can lead to Keratoconous, we can arrest the progression”
“Keratoconous starts in early teens or the last part of the first decade and it can develop beyond the growing years, it can impact vision but can be arrested by timely detection. Advanced cases warrant corneal transplants”.
Registering appreciation, the Supervising Director of Suleiman Ribadu Academy, Miss Maryam Bashir Ribadu reiterated that "It is important for us educators to understand the need for giving serious attention to our students and pupils' eyesight.
She thanked the MAUTH management for the sensitisation and screening exercise, in addition to calling for a continued collaboration.
Find below the summary of the sensitisation lecture delivered by Dr Mustapha Tajuddeen:
Childhood blindness And Visual Impairment
A Child is aged 0 to 15 years (or below 18, depending on the context) - Children account for 46% of Nigeria's 218 million population - At least 1 or 2 children are blind and 16 will have visual impairment in a population of 1,000 children.
Childhood Ocular Morbidity occurs in 6.54% of children - In Africa, including Nigeria, majority of causes of eye conditions in children are preventable or treatable.
Preventable causes:
1. Corneal scarring from many causes e.g. Vitamin A deficiency, measles, injuries, infections, use of traditional harmful preparations
2. Retinopathy of prematurity.
Treatable Causes:
1. Cataract
2. Retinopathy of prematurity
3. Refractive error
4. Low vision
Unavoidable causes e.g genetic causes and malignancies - Examination of a child's eye will help to identify the causes that are preventable and treatable.
Trends in Prevalence And Magnitude Of Childhood Visual Impairment:
• Systematic reviews and meta-analysis put global prevalence of blindness at o.17% and visual impairment at 7.26% (UCVA) and 1.67% (BCVA).
• Refractive error is the most common cause of visual impairment.
• Amblyopia accounts for 7.6%
• Congenital cataract accounts for 0.06%
• Quality of life, Number of life years lost, expectancy are ways of quantifying child disabilities, including blindness. • Direct costs e.g. hospitalisation, utilisation of hospital services, purchase of medical products are of considerations in drive towards prevention.
• Other indirect cost such as recurrence of visual impairment, mental burden, educational failure, disability adjusted life years are being discussed.
Critical Issues About Child Eye Health
1. A child may not be able to tell or recognise when having eye issues.
2. Usually there is a sign.
3. Consult a qualified health care provider.
4. Take extra care if:
a. There is a family history of an eye condition.
b. The child is born preterm of prematurely.
c. The child is born with other health conditions
Things To Keep An Eye On In A Child
1. Having troubles reading and or avoiding close activities.
2. Tilting head, covering one eye or squinting eyes when looking at objects (near or far).
3. Bumping into objects.
4. Delayed milestones e.g social smile, smiling, crawling or walking.
5. Inability to follow simple command.
6. Frequent blinking or rubbing eyes.
7. When required to use eyes he/she loses interest quickly.
8. Difficulty differentiating between shades of the same or similar colours. E.g. red and green or blue and yellow.
9. Abnormal appearance or size of the eyes
10. Watery, itchy, painful, crusty or sticky eyes.
11. Red, brown or grey spots in the white part of the eye. 12. In photos, white or yellow reflection appear in the eye/s.
13. Avoids wearing prescribed glasses or complaining about discomfort or blurry vision.
14. Poor handwriting
15. Poor school performance
Others:
• Limit screen time for better vision
• Follow the doctor prescription only
• Avoid harmful home remedies.
Prevention Strategies:
1. Primary Health Care, including effective Maternal and Child Health.
2. Primary Eye Care, better if integrated into PHC
3. Female Education and Empowerment.
4. Development and Sustainability
5. Effective affordable Refractive Services for children, including Amblyopic Management
6. Good Eye Surgical Services and Effective Follow-up
7. Special Education.
Conclusion:
Need for establishment of a community action for reducing the prevalence of childhood blindness. School eye screening will reduce the burden of refractive error and amblyopia among children.
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