High Costs, Few Specialists Deepen Nigeria’s Eye Care Crisis – Expert
Korede Abdullah 
LAGOS, Nigeria – Nigeria’s struggling eye care system is leaving patients facing a combination of specialist shortages, high treatment costs and inadequate public health facilities, a retired ophthalmologist has warned.
Dr Florence Oyegoke, who worked at Adeoyo State Hospital on Ring Road in Ibadan, Oyo State, said limited access to eye specialists and the rising cost of treatment were making it increasingly difficult for Nigerians to obtain timely care.
Speaking in an interview with Africa Health Report on Monday, Oyegoke described the state of eye health services in the country as poor, citing a shortage of doctors trained in ophthalmology and the migration of medical professionals abroad. “As far as I can tell you, the state of eye health services in Nigeria is very poor because there are very few medical doctors who specialise in ophthalmology,” she said.
She recalled that clinics at Ring Road sometimes attended to between 200 and 300 patients in a session, illustrating the pressure on facilities providing eye care. Oyegoke also raised concerns about the affordability of treatment, particularly for patients who require long-term medication. She said glaucoma eye drops could cost between ₦6,000 and ₦10,000, potentially placing continued treatment beyond the reach of some patients.
Oyegoke stressed the importance of early diagnosis in preventing avoidable deterioration in vision. “The earlier the condition is detected, the better the chances of preserving the patient’s vision for a long time,” she said.
She also questioned the Federal Government’s reported plan to provide 25,000 free cataract surgeries by 2027, asking how the initiative would be implemented effectively across the country. “There is a need for the government to pay more attention to eye care in Nigeria because the situation is getting worse,” she said.
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Hope Ajayi 