Menye Sandra Chukwufumnaya recently graduated as an optometrist from the University of Benin, Benin City, Edo state. The Delta state-born Chukwufumnaya tells SULEIMAN IDRIS in this interview about her desire to see Nigeria free from any disease that causes blindness.
Have you always wanted to be an optometrist?
I wanted to study medicine, but scored high in JAMB, I changed course at my post UME, that was how I choose optometry. I realised that even if the body is okay, if your eyes goes blind, you becomes a burden to your immediate community. It touches my heart when I see such person hence my desire to restore those damage eyes.
What activities do people engage in that is injurious to the eyes?
Detrimental activities abound. People visit chemist shops and are given all manners of drugs to apply into the eyes. By the time they got to us, those eyes are in bad condition, we have to find how to savage them. It is a prevalent thing. Mothers applying breast milks to children eyes. People apply herbal concoctions to the eyes; using urine to wash the eyes. Most of these patients later seek professional help when the situation has gone very bad.
What are some of the common eye diseases?
Cataract is common while many people are ignorant of glaucoma, the thief of sight; glaucoma is that it is irreversible. Most victims will tell you it is a spiritual problem, no, they did not check their eyes overtime. It does not give any sign, it takes the vision from the sight, and the central view is gradually taken away from the sides.
What symptoms should people look out for?
When one notice whitish substance blurring the vision, one wake up and see the sky cloudy as if there is dew when the opposite is the case, one must visit a doctor immediately. It is advisable for people above the age of 40 years to check the pressure of their eyes always, once the pressure of the eyes is high, it reduces the vision. If one notice the way colours appears to you in one eye is different from the other eye, it is also an indication to have your eyes check.
When given medications, be judicious in taking them especially for someone diagnoses with glaucoma, and from time to time, you should see your doctor.
What are the dangers are of prolonged interface with mobile phones and other similar gadgets?
It is called computer vision syndrome, it occurs as a result of the use of your phones, laptops and others for a prolonged period of time. You start feeling dryness, strains, headache, eye pains and discomfort, etc. One should reduce the brightness of the screens, reduce the time spent interfacing with the devices, observe the 20-20 rule, meaning every 20 minutes one spends on the devices, one should take another 20 seconds to look at a distant object that is about 20 meters away. While looking at those devices, one should also blink more.
How should parents care for their children’s eyes?
Children should be well-monitored to know when and if they have challenges with their sight. The way children see things has tremendous effects on their academic performance. If a child does not see well, that child’s academic performance tends to be very low, we call it ability to strive. When children are not seeing properly, basically they will not be smart. If a class teacher writes 5 on the board and a child sees it as a curve or letter C, whatever that child sees is what he or she writes inside the book. A young girl was asked to bring a can of Star from the fridge, but returned with Heineken, both products have the same colour, she could not see the writing on the products. Again, she was asked to pour water inside a cup, but poured it on the tray, she wasn’t seeing properly. If the child is squinting, or complains of eye pain, or when that child picks up a book to read and gets easily tired, they are signs of refractive conditions and should be taken to the clinic to see an optometrist to get the eyes tested.
Most times we feel that a child is not smart or intelligent, but the cause may be the sight and they end up not developing a readiness attitude. When they read for a particular period of time their eyes become tired and they become exhausted as a result of straining the eyes to see. Some develop headache and feel strained.
Are there enough optometrists in the country?
No, even the few available, only few citizens see the need to consult them because people just assume that they are okay. I speak to people at my outreaches, many tell me they see well, nobody is or were blind in their family; so they can’t be blind. They already formed a notion of them been healthy.
What will you advise government to do?
Government should, as a matter of urgency, improve on the facilities in our universities and other institutions of training. Many of the schools have limited facilities. While at the University of Benin, we even lost accreditation and that led to my delay in graduating. We had to start hustling, running round to get equipment, even we as students had to even say let us contribute money so that they will come and check and re-accredit us. We do not have enough equipment, which is a common dilemma.
What do you like best about being an optometrist?
The fact that I can restore sight, you feel joyful seeing a patient that was guided into a clinic and you give them lenses and they can now see. That gives me a great joy and forms my desire in life, I want to see a society free of the blind and that is achievable once we set our hearts on it.
Where do you see yourself in the next ten years?
I have dreams, in optometry I intend to specialise in paediatric and low vision. I have seen a lot of wrongs practised with children. It grieves my heart. I can’t stand it and that is why I want to ensure we have a country free of blind citizens and the best way to accomplish that is to examine the eyes of the citizens at their tender ages. When a child is growing the body is developing, at that stage you can easily correct some noticeable anomalies at that age. There are what we call amblyopia and also strabismus among others. I know it is a bit difficult and expensive too, but we can actually correct these deviations by detecting them at the early stage. I desire to eradicate low vision in children that cannot see by helping them out with low vision aides, especially among albinos that struggle to see; I intend to specialise in helping them with such challenges.
So, what goals have you set for yourself?
My mind is open, I just graduated, I have to find an internship placement and later go for my Youth Service. Thereafter, I intend to start my specialisation in low vision. I believe in the God’s factor in my destiny.
How do you stay motivated?
I try as much as possible not to be idle; I read and research as new studies spring up every day in my field. I have not gotten a place for my intensive, so I look for private clinics where I can offer supports and I also engage in personal outreaches to educate people on the eyes. I very much desire a society where no one single citizen is retarded by the sight.
Describe yourself?
Unique; I like to stay focused, set goals and achieve them. I want to see the youth actually involved in the affairs of the country. If they can’t see well, they can’t participate actively because we are the leaders of this nation. We must take charge, the country is ours. The reason I will never be in a hurry to leave the country is that if everyone goes outside, who will be here to manage the affairs of the country? In our different sectors, we youth must contribute our quota to the growth and development of the country. I know this country will be great. That is why I am on a mission to ensure a blind free Nigeria.
Your advice to Nigerians
Have our eyes checked up regularly, eat healthy – fruits and vegetables. Whatever we take also helps the eyes. What happens inside the body has an effect in the eyes. If you have any systemic condition, treat it adequately. Everything we do has an effect on our eyes. Take drugs effectively if you are asked to do that. If you are in the sun, use the sunshade or a photo-chromic lens to prevent a condition called pinguecula pterygium.
