Nigeria loses $1.6bn to avoidable blindness yearly
Professor Ada Aghaji stated that vision impairment costs the nation billions in lost productivity annually.
Nigeria is losing an estimated $1.6 billion each year due to vision impairment, according to Professor Ada Aghaji. This loss stems from reduced productivity among individuals who suffer from conditions like cataracts or uncorrected refractive errors. The problem affects farmers unable to distinguish crops from weeds, traders struggling with figures, and children whose education is hindered by blurred vision.
Delivering the University of Nigeria's 254th Inaugural Lecture on October 29, 2026, Aghaji, a Professor of Ophthalmology and Eye Health Systems, highlighted that much of this vision loss is preventable or treatable. She contrasted the case of a Nigerian child facing treatment barriers with a Somali refugee child in England who received timely surgery and aids, illustrating systemic disparities in eye care access.
Aghaji argued that eye health in Africa is an economic, development, and justice issue, with Africa losing about $9 billion annually and globally the figure reaches $410 billion. She identified poverty, a shortage of trained health workers, weak referral systems, and inadequate integration of eye care into primary health services as key barriers to treatment.
Why it mattersNigeria loses $1.6 billion annually in productivity due to vision impairment, affecting livelihoods and economic output.