A senior optometrist at the Third Eye and Vision Centre, Dr. Kwame Oben-Nyarko, has disclosed that the recent surge in eye infections among children is largely spread through human contact.

According to Dr. Oben-Nyarko, common activities such as sharing tables, pens, door handles, and shaking hands can easily transmit the infection. He encouraged parents and caregivers to take proactive measures to prevent the spread of eye infections.

To combat the infection, Dr. Oben-Nyarko recommended regularly sanitizing surfaces that are shared and used by many people, both at home and in school. "By sanitizing shared surfaces, we can break the chain of transmission and protect our children's eye health," Dr. Oben-Nyarko said.

He advised parents to take immediate action to prevent the spread of eye infections, which he said could lead to vision impairment and other complications if left untreated.

Dr. Oben-Nyarko said the "Kiddie Eye Care Day" has noticed a disturbing trend of eye infections among children. Several children have been diagnosed with bacterial eye infections, refractive errors, and allergic conjunctivitis, causing vision impairment and other eye problems.

The program, which offered free eye screenings, identified an alarming number of children struggling with eye infections, including those unable to see distant objects. Dr. Oben-Nyarko has therefore urged parents to take advantage of the free screenings to have their children's eyes examined.