Eye clinic
One of The greatest gifts of God to man is the gift of vision, every activity of man is by the power of vision, and when it is lost it seems all hope and dreams are gone. Therefore taking proper care of the eye should be a priority for everyone since it cannot be replaced. The medical sector has shown great ability to explore the study of the human body system which has proven successful through the help of technology as it has with the outcome of optometry.
In this context, I will talk about federal clinics and private eye clinics in Nigeria with a brief history as it will help identify the best medical eye clinic to maintain a clear vision for as long as we live. Give yourself the gift of clear vision – schedule an appointment with your eye care provider today.
What is clinic
A clinic sometimes refers to as a specialist hospital is a healthcare facility primarily focused on the care of outpatients who need special attention on their health issues. Clinics can be privately operated or publicly managed and funded. They typically cover the primary care needs of populations in local communities, in contrast to larger hospitals that offer more specialized treatments and admit patients for overnight stays.
The word clinic refers to a general practice, run by one or more medical practitioners offering small treatments, but it can also mean a specialist clinic. Family Eye Clinic has been a leading provider of optometry services and vision care products since 1995 and has proven to help you achieve and maintain a clear vision for years to come.
Federal eye clinic
Visual impairment and blindness due to ocular diseases are significant public health problems in many parts of the world. According to the World Health Organization on Report in 2010, about 285 million people are visually impaired worldwide and out of these numbers, 39 million (14%) are blind while 246 million (86%) have low vision or severe visual impairment and 90% of them live in developing countries with a poor economy. Nigeria with an estimated population of about 200 million people (National Bureau of Statistics, 2012) is the most populated country in Africa. The results of the blindness and low vision survey conducted from 2005 – 2007 reported the prevalence of blindness and visual impairment at 0.78% for all ages and 4.2% for people over 40 years. If eye care services are made accessible to people, the prevalence of avoidable causes of blindness will be reduced. According to Nigeria’s national visual impairment and blindness survey, the northwest geopolitical zone has the highest number of blind people (28.6%). Both urban and rural dwellers in the Federal Capital Territory exhibit similarity in the prevalence of eye diseases yet there is a significant difference in their utilization of eye care services.
Cases the federal eye clinic can handle include
- Age-related macular degeneration
- Blind eye removal and rehabilitative socket surgery
- Cataracts eye problem
- Corneal disease and conditions
- Diabetic eye disease
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Eyelid cancers
- Glaucoma
- Lens implants for visual correction
- Macular hole
- Oculoplastics for eyelid malpositions, lumps, tumors, and cysts
- Pediatric eye problems
- Squint
- Uveitis
- Watery eyes and blocked tear ducts
- & much more.
ADVANTAGES OF FEDERAL EYE CLINIC
- Free media eye examinations are done before treatment
- All eye specialists working in the clinic are fully employed.
- Eyeglass repairs are done free without payment.
- The federal clinic has up to three or more theaters where eye surgery are been carried out.
- Charges for operation are very low compare to private.
- There is a chance of getting a quick response for operation.
DISADVANTAGES OF FEDERAL EYE CLINIC
- There is no privacy in the clinic
- There is always a large number of people waiting to see the specialist
- A proper medical checkup is not giving.
- The attention of a patient to a specialist is very low.
FACTORS THAT AFFECT UTILIZATION OF EYE CARE SERVICES
Studies within and outside Nigeria have implicated gender, cost, ignorance, attitude, lack of education, and urban residence as common reasons that contribute to the utilization of eye care services. In Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), eye care services are provided by ophthalmologists, optometrists, ophthalmic nurses, and dispensing opticians. The available services range from routine eye examinations to invasive surgical procedures. The majority of the eye facilitates are located in the cities and operational hours are usually from 8.00 a.m to 6.00 p.m on weekdays and only a few operate on weekends. The consequence is the mal-distribution of skilled personnel and facilities. Evidence suggests that improved access to adequate health care leads to enhanced health outcomes. If eye care services are accessible, people who need the services will use them. The prevalence of blindness and visual impairment is high in Nigeria, determining the barriers to access eye care services is essential for developing strategies to prevent blindness.
PRIVATE EYE CLINIC
A private clinic is any healthcare building where private practice is carried out on outpatient basis and observation purposes before referral or transfer to a hospital for further management.
The private eye clinic runs ophthalmology which is a branch of medicine dealing with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of eye and vision diseases. The Private Hospital offers outpatient clinics with consultant ophthalmologists every weekday in a dedicated ophthalmic suite. Should you require further treatment, the private eye clinic has a theatre where surgery can be carried out. It is little or no waiting time for surgery and treatment can start as soon as patients are ready. Experienced consultant ophthalmologists are all experts at diagnosing and treating eye conditions.
It might interest you to know that the most common operations done in private clinics include one-day cataract surgery and hip and knee replacements. Some of these procedures typically take weeks to recover from and not surprisingly, many patients would prefer to recover from the comfort of their homes.
Cases the private clinic can handle involve
- Cataracts
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Glaucoma
- Lens implants for visual correction
- Macular hole
- Pediatric eye problems
- Watery eyes and blocked tear ducts
- Pregnancy operations.
ADVANTAGES OF PRIVATE CLINIC
- Private clinics provide patients with privacy.
- Excellent doctor-to-patient ratios.
- State-of-the-art medical equipment.
- Upscale amenities.
- Faster access to the best medical specialists.
DISADVANTAGES OF PRIVATE CLINICS
- Specialists are consultants, not employers
- Expenses are very high
- A late response to emergency operation
- There is no free eye check-up
- On free medical eyeglasses for patient
- Has only a small theater for an eye operation
Privately operated clinics have their pros and cons, These clinics are completely legal as long as they are following industry standards and comply with the Ministry’s billing laws. Despite the cost, they are becoming more popular than ever. When you consider the higher level of personal attention and the convenience, the higher cost of private clinics doesn’t sound so bad to some people. Even though private clinics often don’t take health insurance, paying the money out-of-pocket can have its benefits. Being able to skip the waiting line and have your procedure done by the doctor of your choice within days is a great incentive. Private clinics can be found across the country, a simple Google search can help you find one close to you that suits your individual needs.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION
QUESTION 1
Are private clinics better than public?
Most federal clinics are better than private clinics as they have more medical eye facilities for any eye condition and are usually equipped to handle more complex cases.
QUESTION 2
What are the symptoms of eye problems?
Answer
There are different types of eye problems with different symptoms, the most common eye problems symptoms are long-sightedness and short-sightedness, poor vision, itching of the eyes, water running eyes. Good healthy eyes can see objects from far and near.
Question 3
What can damage the eye lens?
Answer
The eye lens is very sensitive and can be damaged by direct contact with sharp objects, direct exposure to sunlight or high-intensity light rays, and exposure to chemicals.
Question 4
Who should I consult for eye treatment?
Answer
There are doctors that specialize in eye treatment and they are the best to handle any eye problems. They are mostly found in federal medical clinics (FMC) and are known as opticians.
Question 5.
Where can I get good medical eyecare facilities in Nigeria?
Answer
The best place to get all medical technology with good quality is at Rovich Diagnostics Services.
Conclusion
As waiting months for a procedure can be both extremely inconvenient and uncomfortable, private practices can provide a quicker alternative. While many surgeries in the hospital are covered by insurance, surgeons can charge hundreds or even thousands of dollars for those exact same procedures in their own clinics. Although more respondents were aware of the need for a regular eye check, the utilization was low. The study has identified no felt need as the major reason why people in the Bwari area council do not access eye care services. The cost was also a factor. The other reason why individuals were not accessing eye care services was the non-availability of eye clinics/centers. More effort needs to be made to get more people to utilize the eye clinic. These include awareness and health education campaigns on the need for a regular eye check-up. Development of strategies for accessible and affordable eye care services.