A senior lecturer at the Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan (CoMUI), Dr Yewande O. Babalola, has called for routine eye examinations for tuberculosis (TB) patients, warning that timely detection of ocular tuberculosis could help prevent severe vision impairment and blindness.
Babalola, Principal Investigator of the Point of Screening Ocular Tuberculosis Project (POS-Oc TB), made the call while delivering the Faculty of Clinical Sciences Lecture titled “Ocular Tuberculosis Through the Looking Glass” on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at Paul Hendrickse Hall, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan.
The lecture examined ocular tuberculosis and its public-health implications, drawing attention to a manifestation of TB that the lecturer said remains poorly recognised, including among health workers. She noted that awareness of the disease needs to improve, particularly because people living with HIV/AIDS are among those more vulnerable to tuberculosis.
According to Babalola, ocular tuberculosis occurs when Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium responsible for TB, spreads through the bloodstream from an infected part of the body to the eye. The infection can affect different parts of the eye and may threaten vision if it is not identified and managed promptly.
She explained that the condition may not produce obvious symptoms in its early stages. When symptoms occur, they can include blurred or reduced vision, redness, eye pain, sensitivity to light, floaters or spots in the field of vision, and swelling or inflammation.
The lecturer identified cigarette smoking, close or prolonged contact with people with TB, a weakened immune system and living in areas where tuberculosis is prevalent as factors that may increase the risk of infection. She also highlighted Nigeria’s substantial TB burden, stating that the country accounts for up to 30 per cent of global cases.
Babalola said findings from her research indicated that the prevalence of ocular tuberculosis was nearly twice the level reported in a study conducted two decades earlier. The comparison, as presented during the lecture, underscored the need for further attention to the eye-related effects of tuberculosis and the importance of identifying cases that might otherwise go undetected.
A central feature of the lecture was the presentation of the Point of Screening for Ocular Tuberculosis (POS-OTB) Project, which Babalola leads as principal investigator. The initiative focuses on preventing blindness by screening tuberculosis patients for ocular manifestations of the disease.
She reported that the project had organised training workshops involving departments and units including Medicine, Paediatrics and the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI). Preliminary findings from more than 1,000 patients screened through the project indicated that approximately 90 per cent showed ocular involvement, according to the figures presented at the lecture.
Babalola also discussed a case involving a 33-year-old patient whose ocular lesions were detected despite the individual having normal vision and no symptoms. The case illustrated why relying solely on patients’ complaints or visible changes in eyesight may fail to identify some forms of ocular disease.
The lecturer consequently recommended that all patients diagnosed with tuberculosis undergo eye examinations and urged continued education for health workers to improve recognition of ocular TB. Routine screening, she argued, could help identify eye involvement earlier and support timely clinical attention.
In his opening address, the Provost of the College of Medicine, Professor T. O. Ogundiran, described the lecture as part of the university’s academic tradition of enabling scholars to present their work to audiences within and beyond the institution. He emphasised the importance of providing a platform for academics to share research findings and communicate their significance to the wider community.
The event was attended by the Dean of the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Professor T. A. Lawal, who read Babalola’s citation, alongside past and present members of the College of Medicine management, heads of departments, sub-deans, consultants, resident doctors and medical students.
The research presentation also acknowledged collaborators, including Stanford Medicine, while Pfizer’s Global Health Fellowship was recognised for supporting the work. Babalola’s citation further noted her selection for the 2026 Cohort of Women Leaders in Global Health, adding an international dimension to the recognition of her academic and research activities.
The lecture was the fifth Faculty of Clinical Sciences lecture from the Department of Ophthalmology since 1991, according to the College of Medicine. It continued the institution’s tradition of showcasing research and encouraging discussion of issues with implications for clinical practice and public health.
At a post-lecture cocktail held afterwards at the AOK Johnson Boardroom, Professor Lawal presented Babalola with a commemorative plaque in recognition of her presentation.
The lecture highlighted the connection between university-based medical research, professional training and public-health practice. Its recommendations place emphasis on improving awareness among healthcare workers and incorporating eye examinations into the care of people receiving treatment for tuberculosis.
For Nigeria’s health and medical education communities, the findings presented by Babalola point to the importance of equipping practitioners to recognise less familiar manifestations of common infectious diseases. The project’s screening approach also demonstrates how research conducted within a university setting can inform discussions about clinical practice and the prevention of avoidable complications.
Babalola’s call for routine eye examinations for TB patients, alongside continued training and awareness among health workers, was the central public-health message of the lecture.
