Lagos Ophthalmic Nurses Take Free Eye Screening to Commercial Drivers in Mushin
FNA NEWS, LAGOS NIGERIA, 22nd Of September,2026
Ophthalmic nurses in Lagos State have provided free eye-screening services to commercial drivers at Idi-Araba Motor Park in Mushin as part of efforts to promote early detection of eye problems and improve access to basic eye care in the community.
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The outreach, organised by the Lagos State chapter of the Nigeria Ophthalmic Nurses Association (NONA), took place on September 17, following the association’s annual conference held a day earlier at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba.
During the exercise, commercial drivers had their eyes examined, while those requiring reading glasses were provided with them. Drivers identified as needing additional assessment were also referred for further eye-care services.
Bringing eye care closer to drivers
According to Godwin Manema, Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Nigeria Ophthalmic Nurses Association, the outreach was designed to take basic eye-care services directly to commercial drivers and identify eye problems that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Manema said the initiative was intended to help drivers have their eyes examined and receive glasses where necessary, particularly for difficulties such as reading small print.
He added that people requiring further attention would be referred to the Idi-Araba Eye Centre and Guinness Eye Centre for additional examination and treatment.
The initiative also provided an opportunity for ophthalmic nurses to strengthen their relationship with the communities they serve.
Manema said the association wanted members of the community to recognise ophthalmic nurses as partners in eye health and to become more aware of preventable eye problems.
Outreach follows ophthalmic nursing conference
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The community screening followed the Lagos chapter’s annual conference on September 16 at Hall 36, Lagos University Teaching Hospital.
The conference was themed “Advancing Excellence in Ophthalmic Nursing: Innovations, Safety, and Patient-Centered Care.”
Manema said the conference was aimed at helping ophthalmic nurses remain informed about developments, emerging issues and best practices in ophthalmic nursing.
He said continued professional development was important for nurses to remain current and provide effective care within their field.
Call for community-based ophthalmic nursing practice
The Lagos NONA chairman also called for ophthalmic nurses to have the opportunity to practise within their training and professional scope at community level.
He argued that nurses trained in ophthalmic nursing should be able to apply their specialised knowledge where it can benefit communities.
Manema also emphasised that ophthalmic nurses do not work in isolation, noting that they collaborate with ophthalmologists, optometrists and dispensing opticians as part of the wider eye-care team.
Why community eye screening matters
Community-based screening can help identify people who may have visual problems without readily accessing formal eye-care services. For commercial drivers, vision is particularly relevant because driving requires the ability to see and respond to road conditions.
However, screening is not the same as a complete ophthalmic examination. People identified with suspected eye disease or significant visual problems may require further assessment by an appropriate eye-care professional.
The Lagos outreach therefore combined screening with referral, allowing drivers who needed additional attention to be directed to established eye-care facilities.
The initiative highlights the role ophthalmic nurses can play beyond hospital settings, particularly in taking preventive and basic eye-care services closer to communities.
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Durowoju Abisola is a registered nurse, nurse writer and On-Air Correspondent at Fellow Nurses Africa (FNA), passionate about nursing leadership, health education and advocacy.
Through journalism, storytelling and content creation, she amplifies important conversations around nursing, healthcare and the experiences of nurses in Nigeria. She is committed to using her voice and professional knowledge to educate the public, challenge misconceptions and inspire the next generation of nurses.
