Posted on: Mon 22-06-2020

Eye care specialists have warned that many people missing out on essential eye care as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic are at great risk of further deterioration of their vision. According to them, there has been an increase in people missing their eye care appointments because of the pandemic.

The Medical Director of the Eye Doctors Group of Clinics, Dr. Abiola Oyeleye, who spoke in an interview with NAN said when individuals with chronic eye conditions miss their appointments, run out of their medication or are not being monitored, their conditions can become progressively worse.

“People with diabetic retinopathy (the problem in the eye-related to diabetes) may also worsen, if not checked. “In some certain types of macular degeneration, whereby they have treatable problems in the retina that is not treated at an early stage are at risk too,” he stated.

Also speaking with our correspondent, an ophthalmologist at Omnivision Limited, Dr. Mosun Adegoke, urged people with sight-threatening conditions to visit health facilities for care, notwithstanding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“Practitioners and patients will have to protect themselves because there is no way I can look into the back of your eye without coming close to your nose even when I’m wearing a mask.

“There is no way somebody can do an eye examination without coming close to you; you can’t do it in one or two metres apart. “So, the only thing is that eye issue that is sight-threatening should be dealt with now.

Source: Punch

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

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