The Head of Ophthalmology Department, State Specialist Hospital, Asubiaro, Osogbo, Osun State, Dr Bola Olomola, has warned against the use of breast milk to treat any eye complaint, saying doing so could endanger their eyes.
In a recent interview with Saturday PUNCH, Olomo, who was reviewing cases found to be prevalent during a free eye screening exercise for civil servants and labour leaders in Osogbo, the state capital, said cases of refractive error were noticed to be on the increase among those screened.
The event, which took place at the Government Secretariat, Osogbo, was in commemoration of this year’s World Sight Day.
Explaining what refractive error means, Olomola, who noted that over 400 people benefitted from the screening, added, “Refractive error is the inability to see clearly at a standard visual distance of six meters, which could be due to biopia or hyperopia. At the general screening, it is difficult for us to correct it. We gave many reading glasses.
“But for the distance corrections, they should go further to the hospitals for that one. Also, we will advise people not to apply breast milk to their eyes as a treatment.
“We are also appealing to our parents to stop correcting their children through slapping across their faces. All these things constitute a risk to the eyes.”
The Desk Officer for the Eye Unit at the State Ministry of Health, Dr Olufemi Oroge, said, “We have to make sure our eyes are functioning optimally. People should make it a duty to go for an eye check every time.”
