It was George Bernard Shaw who said "Beware of false knowledge,it is worse than ignorance".

 

An article in the Pointer newspaper of 10th February 2016 particularly page 15 with the above heading written by one Nkadi Okocha-Ejeko who claimed to be a medical doctor is in reference. In the said publication, he had asked the public not to confuse ophthalmologists with optometrists. In his words "They should not be confused with optometrists who are mere technicians that fit you with glasses. Even though they like calling themselves doctors Optometrists are not MDs".

 

The writer who perhaps is suffering from selective amnesia succeeded in confusing optometrists with opticians. His assertion that optometrists are mere technicians is to say the least most unfortunate. In this modern age, one wonders why he could not make enquiries from the different eye care institutions or health information resources available in the state or to say the least utilise the internet on his phone or laptop to know about optometry or who an optometrist is. A simple click on google would have helped him. 

 

The Holy Bible made us understand that 'we shall know the truth and the truth shall set us free'. Buddha also said long time ago that "three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth". Propagating this truth to the world at all times irrespective of your personal or professional leanings is the hallmark of good journalism. 

 

Instead of joining issues with the disillusioned writer, I would rather educate the public and reiterate the unwavering commitment of optometrists towards achieving Vision 2020.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, optometry is defined by the World Council of Optometry as a health care profession, that is autonomous, educated and regulated(licensed /registered), and optometrists are health care practioners of the eye and visual system, involving comprehensive eye and visual care, which includes refraction, dispensing, detection/diagnosis and management of diseases in the eye and rehabilitation of conditions of the visual system. (www.worldoptometry.org/en/about-wco/who-is-an-Optometrist )

 

Optometry is regulated in Nigeria by Cap 09 Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004(formerly Decree no.34 1989). This law states the scope of practice of optometry in Nigeria to include

1)Examination of the eye to determine refractive errors and other departures from optimally healthy eye

2)Correction of refractive errors using spectacles,contact lenses,low vision aids and other devices

3)Diagnosis and management of ocular infections

4)Correction of errors of binocularity (orthoptics)

5)Ocular first aid

 

Simple perusal of this law will expose the falsehood in that publication concerning optometrists. This law (Cap 09 LFN 2004) is a public document which any interested person can get online.

Optometry is a six year course in the university . The entry requirements are credits in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, English Language and Mathematics. The curriculum for training Optometrists in Nigeria is a public document and can be obtained from the National Universities Commission(NUC) or from universities offering Optometry in Nigeria. This training includes courses in Anatomy,Physiology,Biochemistry,Pharmacology,Pathology, Microbiology, Optics, Psychology, Orthoptics,etc. 

 

On graduation after six(6) years of intense studies, one must undergo compulsory one-year internship before the National Youth Service (if still within the age limit) to qualify to practice optometry in Nigeria. 

 

The minimum qualification to practice optometry in Nigeria today is Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree. Optometrists do not call themselves doctors, they are indeed DOCTORS; they are awarded the OD degree by the senate of Universities offering the program in Nigeria. 

 

Furthermore, the government-approved Scheme of Service outlined the duties of an optometrist in simple and clear English that anybody can understand. The Scheme of Service is a public document and can easily be seen in any Federal or State Secretariat nationwide.

 

Optometrists in Civil Service get to the highest level of the Service as provided in the Scheme. Many optometrists are professors in various universities in Nigeria and around the world. For example, the present Vice Chancellors of two Nigerian Universities are optometry professors. It is the highest show of ignorance to refer to these university professors, lecturers, senior civil servants and other optometrists as mere technicians!.

 

The Pointer newspaper which is being repositioned as the newspaper of choice in Delta state and Nigeria in terms of objectivity and balance reporting should beware of the likes of Nkadi if they do not want to destroy their hard-earned reputation. They should also educate their writers on the tenets of good journalism. 

 

Nkadi used that defamatory article to misinform and mislead the public about Optometry, and unfortunately he used Pointer Newspaper as his medium to do this. 

 

The truth is that Optometrists are not technicians. The enlightened public will find the writer's show of stupendous ignorance in his article very laughable.

Optometrists remain fully committed towards achieving Vision 2020 'the Right to Sight' which is an initiative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness(IAPB) aimed at eliminating avoidable blindness worldwide.

 

Optometrists in both the private and public sectors are spread across the different states of Nigeria and beyond. They have been working diligently and passionately within the provisions of the law, and would not be distracted by the likes of Nkadi Okocha-Ejeko whose stock in trade is to present issues from their myopic perspectives. 

 

The public is hereby urged to disregard such misleading pieces of information.