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Dr Blessing C. Ikechukwu, Abuja (2026)

13/08/2026

The little boy had been sitting quietly beside his mother while I prepared for his eye examination.

Everything was fine until he noticed the equipment.

Then he became suspicious.

Very suspicious. 😂

He moved closer to his mum and said, quite loudly,

“Mummy, is she going to put that thing inside my eye?”

His mum immediately started reassuring him.

“No, she won't. Just listen to the doctor.”

I introduced myself again, explained what I was going to do, and let him look at the equipment before I used it.

He still wasn't convinced.

So we took our time.

Eventually, he agreed to continue.

And somewhere in the middle of that examination, he started talking.

About school.

About his favourite food.

About his toys.

About his little brother.

Basically, everything except his eyes. 😂

But I didn't mind.

Because I've learned that sometimes, children need to talk their way into feeling comfortable.

And then he said something that caught me off guard:

“Doctor, are you going to tell my mummy if I can't see?”

I looked at him and said, “Yes. But that's exactly why we're checking your eyes.”

That question stayed with me.

Because children don't always understand why they're being brought for an eye examination.

They may think they're being tested.

They may be afraid they'll get an injection.

They may worry that something will hurt.

Or they may simply not understand what we're doing.

And that's why I don't believe a good children's eye examination is just about getting a child to read the letters on a chart.

It's also about communication.

It's about making them comfortable enough to participate.

It's about observing how they respond.

And, most importantly, it's about making sure we don't miss a potential vision problem simply because a child is too young to explain what they're experiencing.

So when I'm examining a child in my clinic, I find myself thinking about the parent sitting beside them.

The parent who wants to know:

“Can my child see properly?”

“Is this normal?”

“Could this be affecting school?”

“Should my child be wearing glasses?”

Those questions matter.

And they are exactly why routine children's eye examinations are important—even when your child isn't complaining about their vision.

Because sometimes, children don't know that they're not seeing well.

They simply think everyone sees the way they do.

So yes, sometimes my patients make me laugh.

Sometimes they test my patience.

And sometimes they make me think about my boys waiting for me at home.

But every child who sits in my examination chair reminds me why pediatric eye care matters.

And honestly?

I'd rather spend an extra few minutes helping a child feel comfortable than rush through an examination just because they're taking their time.

Parents, when was the last time your child's eyes were properly checked?

Not because they complained.

Just because you wanted to be sure.

Let's talk about it in the comments. 👇🏽

11/08/2026

“Doctor, I don't want glasses. They will spoil my face.”

She said it almost immediately after I told her she needed prescription glasses.

And honestly, I understood.

For some people, getting their first pair of glasses isn't simply about improving their vision.

It's about how they think they'll look.

She kept looking at the frame options and saying things like, “I don't think this one will suit me.”

So instead of telling her, “You need the glasses, just wear them,” we talked about it.

I explained why the prescription was important and how correcting her vision could make everyday activities more comfortable.

Then we looked at different frame shapes and sizes.

She tried a few.

Looked in the mirror.

Took them off.

Tried another pair.

Looked in the mirror again. 😂

Eventually, she found one she actually liked.

And that experience reminded me of something important:

Eye care is not just about numbers on a prescription.

When we prescribe glasses, we're asking someone to incorporate something new into their everyday life.

For some people, that's easy.

For others, it can take a little encouragement.

As an optometrist, my job isn't simply to determine whether someone needs glasses. It's also to listen to their concerns, explain their options and help them find a solution that works for their vision and their lifestyle.

And yes, sometimes that means spending a little extra time choosing frames. 😂

Experience has taught me that people don't always need you to rush them toward the solution. Sometimes they need you to understand why they're hesitant first.

So if you've been avoiding an eye examination because you're worried you'll be told you need glasses, please don't let that fear stop you from getting your eyes checked.

And if you do need prescription glasses, remember:

Glasses are not a punishment for having poor vision. They're a tool to help you see better.

And thankfully, there are enough frame styles these days that you don't have to choose between clear vision and looking good. 😉

When was the last time you had an eye examination?

And be honest…

Would you wear glasses if your optometrist prescribed them, or would you also be worried about how they'd look on you? 😂

10/08/2026

My first professional eye examination was nowhere near perfect.

And I'm actually glad it wasn't.

I was a 4th-year optometry student when I volunteered at a medical outreach.

At that point, I had spent years learning the theory behind eye examinations.

I knew about visual acuity.
I knew about refraction.
I knew the steps I was supposed to follow.

But knowing something in a classroom and actually sitting across from a real patient are two very different things.

I remember feeling nervous.

Not because I didn't know anything, but because this time, there was an actual person sitting in front of me, waiting for me to figure out what was going on with their eyes.

I took the history.

Checked the visual acuity.

Went through the examination.

Asked questions.

And probably double-checked myself more times than I needed to. 😂

Was I as confident as I am today?

Absolutely not.

Did I get everything perfectly right on that first attempt?

No.

But I did something more important.

I started.

That outreach gave me something no textbook could give me, the experience of interacting with a real patient and learning how to apply what I had been taught.

There were things I learned that day that I carried into my clinical training.

And there were things I became better at with every patient I examined afterward.

Years later, I'm now a practicing optometrist, balancing my career with raising twin boys.

And motherhood has reminded me of that same lesson in a completely different way.

You don't become good at something by waiting until you're perfectly ready.

You become better by showing up, learning, making adjustments, and showing up again.

Sometimes I think we put too much pressure on ourselves to have everything figured out before we begin.

We want the perfect plan.

The perfect confidence.

The perfect timing.

But my first professional eye examination wasn't perfect.

My first clinical experiences weren't perfect.

And my journey as a mother and an optometrist certainly isn't perfect.

I'm still learning.

I'm still growing.

I'm still finding ways to balance motherhood, patient care, career development and everything in between.

But I'm still showing up.

So if you're at the beginning of something right now and you're worried because you're not as good as you want to be yet, remember this:

Your first attempt doesn't have to be perfect. It just has to happen.

Every experienced professional was once the beginner who was nervous about getting it wrong.

What was something you did for the first time that you were convinced you weren't ready for?

I'd love to hear your story. ❤️

07/08/2026

Children will humble you in the most unexpected places. 😂

One thing I've learned from examining children is that they have absolutely no understanding of the concept of “Maybe I shouldn't say that here.”

They will tell you EVERYTHING.

You could be halfway through an eye examination, trying to get them to read the letters on the chart, and suddenly they remember something completely unrelated.

One little boy once looked at me very seriously and said:

“Doctor, my mummy said I shouldn't tell you that my daddy snores while sleeping”.

Silence.

I looked at his mum.

His mum looked at me.

And Dad, who had been sitting quietly in the corner, suddenly became VERY interested in his phone. 😂

The funniest part was that the little boy wasn't trying to embarrass anybody.

In his mind, I was simply the doctor.

And apparently, the doctor needed to know EVERYTHING.

I had to compose myself before continuing the eye examination because once children start talking, you quickly realize that you may be getting a full family update you never asked for. 😂

But honestly, this is one of the things I love about examining children.

They're honest.

They're curious.

They're unpredictable.

And sometimes, their little comments tell you more about how they're feeling than a direct question ever could.

As an optometrist, I've also learned that getting a child comfortable enough to talk can make an eye examination much easier.

A nervous child may not cooperate immediately. A shy child may barely answer your questions. And another child may decide you're now their personal therapist. 😂

The goal isn't just to get through the eye test.

It's to create an environment where the child feels safe enough to participate.

Because children's eye examinations shouldn't be something they dread.

And parents, please don't worry if your child says something unexpected during their appointment.

We've heard things.

A LOT of things. 😂

And most of the time, we're trying very hard not to laugh.

Now tell me...

What is the most embarrassing thing your child has ever said in front of other people?

No judgment here. 😂

06/08/2026

A few weeks ago, I took my one-year-old twin boys for their routine health check.

Everything was going smoothly... until one of them had had enough.

About ten minutes into the examination, he became restless. He wanted to get down, move around, and, quite honestly, behave exactly like a one-year-old.

The doctor smiled and said, "Just give him cartoons on your phone."

I smiled back and replied, "We don't do screens."

For a brief moment, he looked at me as if I had made life unnecessarily difficult for myself.

I laughed it off because, to be fair, I understood where he was coming from. Screens are a quick way to calm many children, especially during appointments.

But that moment reminded me of something important.

As an optometrist, I spend a lot of time talking about children's eye health and vision development. As a mum, I have to make those same decisions in my own home.

Choosing to raise my boys with little to no screen time at this stage isn't about trying to be the "perfect" parent.

It isn't about judging families who use screens, either.

Every family has different needs, and every parent is doing the best they can.

For us, it's simply a choice we've made because these early years are filled with opportunities for visual learning.

When babies watch a caregiver's face, follow a moving toy, crawl across the room, stack blocks, point at birds outside, or flip through picture books, they're doing much more than playing.

They're developing important visual skills that support how they learn, explore, and interact with the world.

That doesn't mean screens are the enemy.

It does mean that real-world experiences deserve plenty of space in a young child's day.

As parents, we often think about nutrition, vaccines, and milestones.

I hope we also remember to think about our children's eyes.

Healthy vision isn't just about seeing clearly. It's about giving children the opportunity to use their eyes in ways that help them grow and thrive.

Whether your child has screen time every day, occasionally, or hardly at all, my encouragement is the same:

Make time for outdoor play. Read together. Let them explore. And don't forget that routine eye examinations are just as important as routine health checks.

Our children's eyes are developing every single day. Let's give them every opportunity to develop well.

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

How do you approach screen time with your children? Has it been easier or harder than you expected?

05/08/2026

The other evening, one of my twin boys became completely fascinated by a toy across the room.

As I watched him stare at it with so much curiosity, I found myself smiling... and then thinking about the many children I've seen in the clinic whose parents had no idea they were struggling to see clearly.

One thing I've learned as both an optometrist and a twin mum is this:

Children rarely tell you they can't see well because they often don't know that their vision is different from everyone else's. To them, blurry vision may simply be "normal."

That's why parents need to pay attention to the little signs.

Here are 5 signs your child's eyes may be struggling:

👁️ 1. They sit very close to the TV or hold books and phones too close.
This can sometimes be a sign of short-sightedness (myopia) or another vision problem that deserves an eye examination.

👁️ 2. They squint often.
Squinting can temporarily make things look clearer, so children may do it without realizing why.

👁️ 3. They complain of frequent headaches or tired eyes.
Eye strain isn't always caused by too much screen time. An uncorrected refractive error may also be contributing.

👁️ 4. They lose interest in reading or schoolwork.
Sometimes what looks like poor concentration is actually a child struggling to see the words on the page or the writing on the board.

👁️ 5. They rub their eyes often or blink excessively.
While this doesn't always mean there's a serious problem, persistent eye rubbing or excessive blinking is worth having checked by an eye care professional.

As a mum, I understand the temptation to hope your child will "grow out of it."

As an optometrist, I also know that early detection can make a significant difference. Many childhood vision problems can be managed more effectively when they are identified early.

One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is clear vision. It supports their learning, their confidence, and how they experience the world around them.

If you've noticed any of these signs, don't panic. Simply book a comprehensive eye examination and get professional advice. Peace of mind is always worth it.

I'd love to hear from other parents.

What was the first sign that made you realize your child needed an eye examination, or have you ever taken your child for one even without noticing any symptoms?

Let's talk in the comments. Your experience might encourage another parent to prioritize their child's eye health.

03/08/2026

People often ask me how I manage being a full-time optometrist while raising twin boys.

The truth?

Some days, I don’t feel like I’m managing it perfectly. I’m simply showing up and doing my best.

What surprised me most wasn’t learning how to function on little sleep or becoming an expert at multitasking.

It was discovering that my twin boys were quietly teaching me patience.

At home, nothing happens exactly when I expect it to. One baby wants attention while the other has already found something to explore. Feeding takes longer than planned. Getting out of the house is rarely as quick as I imagine. I’ve learned that rushing usually doesn’t make things better—it just makes everyone more stressed.

Without realizing it, I carried that lesson into my practice.

Recently, I was examining an elderly patient who struggled to understand parts of the eye examination. We had to repeat a few instructions several times. Before becoming a mum, I might have found myself thinking more about the waiting patients outside.

Instead, I slowed down.

We repeated the test. I explained things differently. We laughed about it, and by the end of the consultation, the patient smiled and said, “Thank you for not making me feel like I was wasting your time.”

That simple comment stayed with me.

As healthcare professionals, we spend so much time focusing on getting the diagnosis right—and rightly so. But patients also remember how we made them feel.

My twin boys didn’t intentionally teach me how to be a better optometrist.

They simply taught me that people don’t always move at our pace. Sometimes they need a little more time, a little more reassurance, and a little more kindness.

Ironically, the patience I’m learning at home is helping me provide better patient care in the clinic.

Motherhood hasn’t reduced my passion for eye care or vision health. If anything, it has reminded me that every patient deserves to feel heard, respected, and cared for.

If you’re a parent, has raising your children changed the way you approach your work?

And if you’re not a parent, has life ever taught you a lesson that unexpectedly made you better at your profession?

I’d love to hear your story in the comments.

01/08/2026

There was a day at work that made me realize motherhood had quietly changed the kind of optometrist I am.

A mother walked into the clinic with her little child. Before we even started the eye examination, she apologized for how restless her child was. She looked exhausted, distracted, and a little embarrassed.

Months ago, I probably would have focused only on getting through the consultation as efficiently as possible.

But now?

As a twin boy mom, I saw something different.

I saw the sleepless nights hidden behind her smile. I saw the mental checklist running through her head. I understood why she kept checking on her child every few seconds. I knew she wasn’t being “difficult.” She was simply doing what mothers do.

So instead of rushing, I slowed down.

I reassured her that she didn’t need to apologize. We took breaks when her child became fussy, and I explained every step of the eye examination in simple terms so she felt involved rather than overwhelmed.

That encounter stayed with me.

Motherhood hasn’t made me a better clinician because I suddenly know more about eyes. My training and experience gave me that.

Motherhood has made me listen more carefully, extend a little more grace, and remember that every patient carries a story I may never fully know.

Balancing a career in healthcare while raising twin boys isn’t always easy. Some days are messy. Some mornings start long before sunrise. There are moments when I wonder if I’m giving enough at home or at work.

But every day I walk into the clinic, I remind myself that my experiences as a mother haven’t taken away from my profession, they’ve added another layer to the care I provide.

To every healthcare professional who is also raising children: the skills you’re learning at home: patience, empathy, resilience, and adaptability, show up in your practice more than you realize.

And to every parent who has ever apologized for being tired, late, or overwhelmed during a clinic visit, please know this: many of us see you, and we’re rooting for you.

Has becoming a parent changed the way you do your work? I’d genuinely love to hear your experience.

02/07/2026

I no longer feel sad for patients who lose their vision to orthodox treatments.

With the brain God gave you, you carried your two legs to a place where all manner of herbs were used on your eyes.

You patiently endured the pain of your wrong decision.

And finally remember there is a hospital or clinic where you can receive appropriate comprehensive eye care, when your vision has entered “quarter to go”.

I ga ebe ka okwa.

Why do people see the hospital as a last resort instead of the first point of call when there is a medical emergency?

Then you expect a miracle from a professional!

Everyone knows what they are doing.

To better vision and health,
I am Dr Blessing Ikechukwu
Your licensed Eyecare professional

01/07/2026

This morning, I arrived at the hospital by 8:11am as against 8:30am resumption time.

For a twin mom who juggles motherhood with showing up for her career, this meant a lot to me.

My colleagues still wonder how I still make it to work at a good time.

For someone who is used to seeing workers show up at a convenient time because “it’s government work”, I am determined to be different.

It’s not convenient. My flesh is weak sometimes.

But for someone who sees her workplace as her place of assignment, I am committed to Christian work ethics.

Till we all win,

Here is to a beautiful second half of 2026.

Happy New Month.

I am Dr Blessing C. Ikechukwu.
Your licensed Eye Care Professional.

Dr Blessing C. Ikechukwu

13/08/2026

11/08/2026

10/08/2026

07/08/2026

06/08/2026

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