DUFUHS Commences Eye Disease Research 

The vice-chancellor of David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, DUFUHS, Professor Jesse Uneke, has said that the newly established Eye Centre will integrate scientific theory and practice in the management of people with eye diseases.

Prof Uneke said that the university will undertake cutting-edge research into eye diseases with latest technologies and advance evidence-based practice.

Prof Uneke made the disclosure during the official flag-off of an Ultra-modern Eye Centre established at the university.

He said that the Centre will undertake regular blindness and visual impairment surveillance at state, regional and national levels to generate scientific information on eye diseases.

“The surveillance will inform policy and practice and lead to improvement on the understanding of how to address eye related diseases in Nigeria.

“The DUFUHS Eye Centre will function as a Centre for the use of advanced technology for the diagnosis of eye related diseases. The Centre will employ the latest experimental and methodological diagnostic techniques, including, Color Vision Test (Farnworth-Munsell 100 Hue Test (FM-100).

Others include, Corneal Topography; Electro-Diagnostic Testing; Fluorescein Angiography; Ocular Coherence Tomography (0Cm, Photography of the Eye (including retinal photography and fundus photography) among others,” he said.

He maintained that the eye center is a state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence eye research, Training and Patient Care adding that Eye conditions are remarkably common and that those who live long enough will experience at least one eye condition during their lifetime.

He said, “Visual challenge leads to lower levels of educational achievement among some children in the society and such needs to be tackled on time. Most eye problems wouldn’t have lead to total blindness if treated on time.”

Flagging off the Center, the Wife of Ebonyi State Governor, Mrs. Uzoamaka Nwifuru, explained that Better Health For Rural Women, Children and Internally Displaced Persons (BERWO), her pet project, collaborated with the University to begin a life-changing initiative that will address the eye challenges facing society.

“Going forward, BERWO will utilize the centre in tackling eye challenges faced by individuals in rural communities by providing free screening, prescription glasses, medication, and even surgical interventions where necessary.

“Through this collaboration, we intend to reach out to those in need of eye care especially the indigents. This centre serves as our commitment to quality health care and treatment for the people.

“My sincere appreciation goes to the Vice Chancellor of David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Professor Jesse Uneke for establishing this ultra-modern health centre with state-of-the-art technology in the treatment of patients and eye research,” she added.