Ophthalmology

The Ophthalmology Department of Federal Medical Centre Birnin Kudu, Jigawa State was established in March 2003 with a visiting consultant ophthalmologist Dr. Lawan Abdu and 2 ophthalmic nurses.
Staff Strength
The Department has 1 Consultant, 5 Ophthalmic Nurses, 1 Optometrist and 1 Optician,
Services Rendered
Large number of clients patronizes the facilities across the state and neighbouring Kano, Bauchi, and some far areas of Kaduna, Yobe, Borno, Taraba and Plateau states. This of course has to do with the quality of our services especially surgeries, attitude of our staff and cost effect. The activities carried out are based on our available equipment and personnel in our sub units, thus consulting clinics, optometry and low vision unit, operating theatre optical dispensing unit.
However, the services include:-
1. Consultant assessment and diagnostic procedures such as slit lamp, B scan, indirect ophthalmoscopy etc.
2. Primary care clinic; this is the first contact clinic managed by ophthalmic nurses where visual acuity, tonometry blood pressure, measurement, patients assessment are carried out. All patients undergo primary router assessment. Most cases are treated and serious ones and those requiring surgery and advanced assessments are referred to the consultant. Some minor treatment procedures are carried out in this unit such as eye irrigation, foreign body, removal, chalazionincision and curettage, minor lacerations suturing, trachomatis trichiasis lid rotation surgery, minor conjunctival granuloma excision etc.
3. Subjective and objective refraction, low vision assessment and management by our doctor in optometry. Other special services includes optical management of squint in children etc.
4. Surgeries carried out by the consultant ophthalmologist include small incision cataract surgery with posterior chamber intra ocular lens, traveculectomy,erisceration, enucleation, exenteration, optical iridectomy, adult nasolacrimal duct blockage correction, pterygium excision, intraocular foreign body removal, corneal repair, minor to moderate oculo-plastic surgery, examination under anaesthesia etc.
5. Optical dispensing services is another area of client satisfaction. This is due to efficient service, reliable machines and competent and skilled personnel.
6. Other services include a diagnostic automated central visual field test for glaucoma management.
7. The department works in conjunction with other relevant disciplines such as ear, nose and throat (ENT) maxillofacial unit, medicine, paediatrics and neurology to achieve an optimal care for our clients.

Achievements from 2017 to Date
The department witnesses a rapid improvement during the period under review owing to provision of working tools and consumables. For instants, the management purchased a new automated icare tonometer and took the former damaged one for repair in October 2020. The tonometer with the automated central visual field machine with a printer provided by Alh. Babangid aAliyu following an advocacy and good inter community relation those Hospital Friends Initiate gave us an excellent diagnostic and management of glaucoma. Other items provided by the management include:-
• 2 sets of cataract instruments
• 1 additional trolley
• Artery forceps, scissors, sponge holding forceps etc.
• Eye camp was conducted twice in the history of ophthalmology department. The first one was conducted in 2019 by Senator Sabo Muhammad Nakudu foundation where eye screening and 100 cataract surgeries done.
• The second camp was in February 2021 organized and sponsored by Jigawa State Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria in conjunction with Governor Muhammad Badaru and Jigawa State Ministry of Health. 170 cataract cases were successfully operated.
• Our role as a Federal Medical Centre was utilizing our machines, instruments, theatre and personnel following the permission and directives of the Medical Director. We still rendered follow-up assessments and management free.