Bola Olomola, the head of the Ophthalmology Unit at the Osun State Ministry of Health, has cautioned Nigerians against applying breast milk to their eyes as a remedy for eye issues.

He said this could endanger their vision and cause complications. He made this statement on Friday, while speaking at the free eye screening exercise for civil servants at the Government Secretariat, Osogbo and labour union leaders in the state.

The exercise was part of the activities to mark this year’s World Sight Day.

He said he observed an increase in refractive errors among the screened participants. 

“At the general screening, it is difficult for us to correct the distance most of the time. We have given many of the civil servants that came for the screening reading glasses. We are trying to correct the people who can benefit from presbyopic corrections.

“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 treatment.

“We are also appealing to our parents to stop correcting their children through slapping. Even adults should not focus the eye when engaging in physical fights. All these things constitute risk to the eyes.”

Dr Olufemi Oroge, the Desk Officer for Eye Unit at the Ministry, said the aim of the free eye screening was to raise awareness and encourage people to take care of their eyesight.

He said,“Our lives and work are easier and efficient when we have a good sight. We have to make sure that our eyes are kept at optimal functioning. People should make it a duty to go for an eye check every time.”