ABSTRACT
Visual impairment, or poor vision, is a major problem worldwide. One in 5 people in the world has poor vision. In Ghana, about 4 out of 100 people cannot see well and at least one of them is blind.
The problem of poor vision will increase if appropriate measures are not taken.That is, in the coming years, more people will suffer from poor vision or blindness caused by conditions such as refractive errors, cataracts, glaucoma and diabetes.
Prof Olalekan Oduntan, a distinguished professor of Optometry, will throw more light on the problem of poor vision and blindness and present solutions for them in this lecture.
The lecture is in memory of Dr. F. K. Morny, the Father of Optometry in Africa.
BIODATA
Professor Oduntan obtained B.Sc. (First Class Hons) from the Department of Optometry, University of Benin, Nigeria in 1982 and PhD, Optometry from the City University, London., UK, 1988. He was a Commonwealth Scholar. He was appointed Assistant Professor at the King Saud University, Saudi Arabia, (1989-1996), Associate Professor, University of Limpopo (UL), South Africa, (1996) Professor, University of Limpopo (UL), South Africa, (2002), Professor, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, (2008) and Honorary Professor, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (2014), and Professor, Department of Optometry, Madonna, University, Nigeria (2015).
His research interests include Low vision, Ocular anatomy, Design of vision test charts, and Eye Health Promotion. He has published 86 research articles in peer-reviewed Journals. His major research achievements include discovery of an elastic tissue layer in the primate conjunctiva (J. Anat. 1989, 163: 165- 172); description of the source of sensory innervation of the inferior conjunctiva (Graefe’s Arch. Ophthalmology. 1992, 230: 258- 263); organization of capillaries in the primate conjunctiva. (Ophthalmic Research. 1992, 24 (1): 40-44); and causes and prevalence of low vision and blindness in the Limpopo Province, South Africa (S. Afr. Optom. 2003, 62: 8-15). He received JL Sacks Literary Award from S. African Optom. Assoc., 2000. Received Research Excellence Award (2001), (Second Position, Senior Category), University of Limpopo, South Africa.
He is the author of a monograph: Global visual impairment: Epidemiology, implications and prevention. University of Limpopo Press, 2005, (ISBN 0-9584778-8-4) and a chapter: The role of Psychotherapy in the contemporary rehabilitation of visually-impaired patients. In: Madu NS (ed.). Mental Health and Psychology in Africa. World Council for Psychotherapy, African Chapter, UL Publisher, Polokwane, 2005. He has completed a book manuscript: Contemporary low vision care. He is a co-author of a book manuscript: Optometry in Africa, by Oduntan, Mashige and Boadi-Kusi. He has supervised several Master and PhD students.
The Lecture forms part of activities marking the official opening of the University of Cape Coast Eye Clinic which is scheduled for Monday, 25th March, 2019 at the Forecourt of UCC Eye Clinic (In front of Former UCC Credit Union Building), Oldsite at 09:00 a.m.
OUTLINE OF ACTIVITIES
- Opening Prayer.
- Opening Remarks and welcome address will be given by the Provost of the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences followed by the introduction of the Chairman.
- The Vice-Chancellor will chair the programme.
- Prof. Komla Dzigbordi-Adjimah will read the Biography of Dr. F. K. Morny (Father of Optometry in Africa), in whose memory the Lecture will be delivered; this will be followed by the Introduction of the Speaker.
- Lecture by Professor O. A. Oduntan.
- Chairman's closing remarks.
- Vote of thanks and closing prayer concludes the programme.