Medical experts have emphasised the urgent need for a multi-tiered approach to retinal care to address the increasing incidence of blindness caused by diabetes in the country.
They highlighted that diabetes, affecting millions globally, often remains undiagnosed until severe complications such as diabetic retinopathy arise, potentially leading to blindness if not detected and treated early.
The professionals also lamented the limited financial resources, screening infrastructure, and shortage of trained personnel as significant obstacles in tackling this growing public health issue.
These concerns were raised during the fourth Africa Retina Society’s (ARS) General Meeting and Scientific Conference, held in Lagos with the theme: “Upscaling Retinal Services in a Resource-Constrained Economy.”
The Chairperson of the Vitro Retinal Society of Nigeria (VRSN), Prof Bassey Fiebai, stated that diabetes has become a major public health concern in Nigeria, causing severe complications like diabetic retinopathy, which can lead to irreversible vision loss without early detection and treatment.
Fiebai, who is also a Retinal Specialist at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, emphasised the pressing challenges faced by eye care professionals in low to middle-income countries such as Nigeria, where the ratio of retina specialists to the population exceeds 2.3 million people per specialist.
She advocated the integration of diabetic retinopathy screening and retinal services into the primary healthcare system, leveraging existing infrastructure to enhance screening capabilities at the grassroots level for early detection and referral.
Fiebai further highlighted the implementation of teleophthalmology, utilising digital platforms and internet connectivity to transmit retinal images from primary care systems to specialists at higher-level facilities for diagnosis and treatment planning.
The Chairman, Africa Retinal Society (ARS) Steering Committee, Dr Asiwome Seneadza, underscored the increasing rate of diabetes and the consequent rise in diabetic retinopathy cases.
He advocated a grassroots approach to screening and early detection, stressing the need for comprehensive policy frameworks integrating eye care into diabetes screening programmes and supporting management initiatives for diabetic retinopathy.
Seneadza called for collaborative efforts from governments and increased funding to equip healthcare facilities with essential screening tools, aimed at reducing preventable blindness across the country.
On his part, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, highlighted the severe shortage of skilled manpower in ophthalmology despite a high demand for medical care.
He called for enhanced training of healthcare professionals, the development of screening facilities at primary healthcare centres, and the integration of digital health technologies to improve healthcare delivery.
Abayomi, who emphasised the importance of eye health, announced plans to establish a specialist eye hospital at Lagos State University (LASU) and enhance public awareness campaigns through initiatives like Ilera Eko, Lagos State’s health insurance programme.
The Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Dr Adetunji Adenekan, stressed the significance of the conference theme, emphasised a multidisciplinary approach to diabetic retinopathy screening, including the use of artificial intelligence to enhance diabetic eye care delivery.
He stated that the conference is aimed at developing practical solutions aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1, 2, 3, and 4, focusing on eradicating poverty, ensuring healthy lives, and promoting well-being for all ages.
Adenekan highlighted these initiatives as critical steps toward safeguarding the vision and overall health of Nigeria’s population amidst high disease burden and limited resources.