Lagos Marks World Sight Day with Free Eye Checks, Surgeries, Glasses for Residents
The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Health, has joined the rest of the world to commemorate World Sight Day 2025 on Wednesday, with an awareness walk around Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja, with free eye check up, to promote the public consciousness on eye health and access to quality vision care, themed “Love Your Eyes: Access to Eye Care for All.”
The event which started with a walk from the Ministry of Health complex, assembled health officials, development partners, professional bodies, and community representatives in a unison call for a behavioural change concerning eye health among Lagosians. The event was further proceeded with free eye screening, surgeries and glasses for residents.
While giving his remarks, The Honourable Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, emphasized the crucial need of a good eyesight to productivity and safety. He stressed that eye diseases must be detected early to prevent irreversible blindness.
Abayomi explained that the state government is improving preventive eye care through the establishment of eye clinics in all General Hospitals and major Primary Health Centres across Lagos. He identified common conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, and age-related vision changes as leading causes of visual impairment and a such, requires regular screening.
He urged parents and teachers to be observant of children who struggle to see or read clearly, as poor eyesight can hinder learning without the being realized. The Commissioner also encouraged adults, especially occupational drivers and machine operators, to prioritize regular eye tests for their safety and that of other road users. He linked eye health to broader health insurance access, ‘Ilera Eko’, where subscribers can access free eye checks alongside other medical services for as low as ₦15,000 annually.
Also in attendance was the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, who described the World Sight Day as a reminder that equal access to quality eye care is essential to achieving universal health coverage. He noted that many Lagosians live with undiagnosed visual challenges that could have been easily treated if detected early. He emphasized the need for residents to conduct routine eye tests, while using the free service opportunity.
Speaking earlier at the event, the Director of Medical Administration and Training, Dr. Mazeedat Erinosho, said the World Sight Day commemoration was part of the government’s Blindness Prevention Programme, which provides free screenings, eyeglasses, and cataract surgeries to residents. She revealed that over 500 people were being targeted in this year’s outreach.
In a related development, the Chief Executive Officer of the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation, Dr. Olalekan Makinde, announced that the foundation partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Health to distribute 300 free eyeglasses and also screen 5000 beneficiaries as part of the commemoration.
