The Ophthalmologist Society of Nigeria has called for the establishment of policy to mandate vision testing for new borns in all hospitals.
The policy is to have children undergo eye test at every stage of their lives to dictate any eye defect especially glaucoma.
They made the call at the celebration of the glaucoma week which was taken to schools in Abuja.
One of the Ophthalmologist Dr Jane Ifechukwu explained that glaucoma which is the second largest cause of preventive blindness could also be found in children, hence the need to dictate it early for proper management.
She called for schools and corporate bodies to inculcate vision testing as a requirement for admissions and recruitment.
The principal of one of the schools visited for free vision testing Mr Andrew Egan thanked the Society for such initiative adding that schools could imbibe the culture.
He said only about 350 pupils got approval from their parents to participate in the e ongoing free vision testing.
Nancy Anika Ezie