More than 200 people in Ibadan have benefited from free eye screenings, prescription glasses, medications and other eye-care services provided by Lions International District 404B4, Nigeria.
The intervention was organised on Thursday under the district’s Sight Preservation and Eye Health Project to mark the 2026 World Sight Day, themed, “Love Your Eyes, Sight for All.”
Medical personnel conducted eye examinations during the programme, while beneficiaries received prescription glasses, eye drops and essential medications. Those diagnosed with conditions requiring further attention were referred for additional medical care.
The District Committee Chairperson for Sight Preservation, Lion Funmilayo Oladeji, said the initiative reflected Lions International’s humanitarian commitment to preserving sight and expanding access to eye-care services.
Oladeji stressed that sight plays a critical role in almost every aspect of daily life, making early detection and treatment of eye conditions essential.
She said Lions International was committed to ensuring that more people could access eye-care services but acknowledged that the organisation could not address the country’s eye-care needs alone.
She therefore urged individuals, organisations and other stakeholders to support initiatives aimed at preventing avoidable blindness and improving access to treatment.
Oladeji said more than 200 people were targeted for the screening, with over 200 prescription glasses and medications made available to beneficiaries.
She added that antibiotics and other medications were also provided, with medical personnel on hand to attend to participants.
President of the Ibadan Hilltop Lions Club, Lion Bisi Shofunde, said the programme formed part of Lions International’s long-standing efforts to prevent avoidable blindness and promote eye health.
Shofunde recalled Helen Keller’s appeal to Lions to become “knights for the blind”, noting that sight preservation had remained one of the organisation’s major humanitarian areas.
She said early detection and treatment could prevent several eye conditions from progressing into severe visual impairment.
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According to her, the Ibadan Hilltop Lions Club had also supported cataract surgeries and distributed eye-care materials in previous years.
She said the club sponsored 26 cataract operations last year, distributed more than 100 glasses and spent about N150,000 on eye drops.
Shofunde said the World Sight Day programme was also intended to raise public awareness about eye health, adding that individual Lions Clubs would continue to implement eye-care interventions in different communities.
She called for greater government involvement in routine eye screening, particularly among schoolchildren.
Shofunde urged the government to consider incorporating eye examinations into routine medical checks for pupils and students at the beginning of every academic session.
She also advised Nigerians to undergo regular eye examinations by qualified professionals instead of purchasing glasses from roadside vendors.
She stressed that glasses should only be prescribed or dispensed after proper eye examinations.
The guest lecturer, Mrs Adetunji Opeyemi, also emphasised the importance of proper eye care, early detection and preventive measures.
Opeyemi urged members of the public to pay attention to changes in their vision and seek professional medical attention when necessary.
A beneficiary, Mrs Mary Akinwale, appreciated the Lions for providing access to eye screening and other services.
Another beneficiary, Mr Azeez Sanni, said the intervention gave members of the public an opportunity to have their eyes examined and receive assistance that could help preserve their sight.
NAN
