Stop using urine, cow dungs for eye treatments, Ophthalmologist warns

A consultant Ophthalmologist with Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Dr. Ibrahim Yuguda, has warned Nigerians against using unsubstantiated substances to treat eye ailments.

Speaking with newsmen to mark this year’s World Sight Day in Kano, Yuguda said it was not ideal to use sugar, salt, water, urine, cow dungs to treat eye ailments, advising that a simple eye screening remains the basic and most effective way to address eye problems.

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He also advised people against buying eye drops from stores on self-medication, saying such a habit can make worse their situations.

“What they need to do is to go for eye screening so that any eye defect can be sorted out early and given the appropriate attention.

“All over the world, over two billion people have blindness or visual impairment which can be mild, moderate or severe.

“Of this number, over one billion are treatable and preventable by early screening and treatment,” he added.

He advised people, especially those above 40, to at least, have their eyes checked once in a year, advising that early diagnoses can prevent blindness.