Visual Complications: Prevention is Better Than Cure - CMD

The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Obafemi Awolowo Uniyversity Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), Prof. John Okeniyi, has charged people to prevent themselves from total blindnes by presenting their cases earlier to Ophthalmologists.

Okeniyi, gave the charge during the 12th Scientific Conference & Annual General Meeting of the Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria, Osun State Chapter, at Mini Auditorium, Phase 111, OAUTHC, on Tuesday, in Ile-Ife.

He emphasised that people perish because of lack of understanding and knowledge,saying that eyes is the window to the earth that people use to see everything.

According to him, eyes are used to enjoy the beauty of life and to work, so when one loses vision, the major connection to the world and a lot of productivity has gone.

The Chief Medical Director enjoined all and sundry to take good care of their eyes,for prevention is better than cure.

Okeniyi explained that healthcare is costly presently, but notwithstanding masses should enroll with National Health Insurance Scheme(NHIS) where 10% would be spending on their health, for "a stich in time save nine".

Prof.Josephine Ubah, a Consultant Oculoplastic, Ophthalmologist UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, delivered lecture on the theme of the Conference"Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery in Nigeria: Blindness prevention strategies".

Ubah, who's the Keynote Speaker, noted that majority suffers for abnormalities in their eyes through accidents and trauma, but didn't know there are specialists handling the case.

The Oculoplastic surgeon explained that they are not only do with restoring functions of abnormal eyes, but also maintaining aesthesis by making someone to look better.

According to her, all puffiness under and on top of the eyes can be removed and the problem associated with them would also removed, which also make the person to look more younger.

She advised them to present their case earlier at government hospital where different specialists would attends to them rather than patronising quack doctors.

The Chairperson, Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria (Osun State Chapter, Prof Bernice Adegbehingbe welcomed all the guests, keynote speaker, past Chairmen, nurses, departmental officials among others.

Adegbehingbe said the Conference topic was chosen to assist people especially men that mostly involved in accidents like: Motorcyclists, road accident, farm and other occupational injury that affect their faces and disfigure them.

She expressed further that Oculoplastic 

has to do with ocular reconstruction surgeries that has to do with if people have tumour, disfiguring, swelling  on the faces, or people that have accident. 

"We have been discussing several topics in our conferences, but this year we treated Oculoplastic so as to help people to improve in their look.

"When anyone has disfiguring condition like facial trauma, swelling faces, it affect their looking, even some children are with swelling faces, so when its earlier presented, the Oculoplastic surgeon would remove it and they will have a better look". She explained.

The Ophthalmologist urged generality to avoid anything that can affect their faces, and if affected should come to Ophthalmologist to give them the best treatment.