Experts warn of danger in delaying treatment for cataract in children

Ophthalmologists have warned parents against delaying treatment for children with vision impairment, following the case of a 7-year-old girl, Falilah Lukman, who benefited from a free cataract surgery programme in Edo State.

Falilah is one of 200 beneficiaries of the medical outreach organised by Tantita & Jovason Group, in partnership with Africa Cataract & Eye Foundation and the Edo State Government.

The surgeries are ongoing at the Edo Specialist Hospital, Benin City, and a facility in Ologbo community, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area.

Speaking on the intervention, founder of the Africa Cataract & Eye Foundation, Dr. Mejuya Okorodudu, said Falilah’s case should be a wake-up call to parents.

He explained that cataract is not an ailment of only the aged, as children can be born with it or develop it early.

According to him, delayed treatment in children is dangerous because it can affect the development of the brain’s visual centre.

“Any time you hear that a child is blind, we want you to bring that child to us as soon as possible,” Okorodudu said.

He noted that an adult who becomes blind later in life has a higher chance of regaining sight after surgery, but a child deprived of early visual stimulation risks permanent blindness.

“While an adult who loses sight later in life may regain vision after cataract surgery, a child who has never developed normal visual stimulation could suffer permanent visual impairment if treatment is delayed,” he stressed.

Okorodudu said the programme is targeted at rural and riverine communities where many poor people suffer blindness without access to specialist eye care.

“Cataract blindness is the only blindness we can reverse,” he said, urging patients to avoid traditional methods and seek proper treatment.

He also clarified misconceptions about the surgery, explaining that the eye is not removed, but the cloudy lens is replaced with an artificial one. He added that the procedure lasts 10 to 15 minutes and patients begin to see shortly after.

He disclosed that 138 cataract surgeries were done at Ologbo before the Benin phase, putting the value of surgery and drugs per beneficiary at about ₦450,000. He however said mass interventions bring down cost due to economies of scale.

Edo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Cyril Oshiomhole, described the intervention as proof of the state government’s commitment to affordable healthcare for the poorest and most vulnerable.

Oshiomhole said the initiative is in line with the administration’s healthcare agenda and urged the media to create awareness so more people can benefit.

On her part, the Chief Medical Director of Edo Specialist Hospital, Dr. Anthonia Njoku, commended the partners, saying the programme aligns with Governor Monday Okpebholo’s vision for accessible healthcare in the state.