Eye Health Hero: Princess Ifeoma Ike

Dr Princess Ifeoma Ike is a Public health Optometrist, social entrepreneur, and management professional with over 8 years of professional experience, demonstrated technical and programmatic management skills in designing and implementing integrated eye care and advocacy programs aimed at bridging the yawning gap in eye health delivery in Nigeria. Through public and private sector engagements, she has worked to ensure that marginalized and high-risk groups have access to eye care and required support for equity and inclusion. Currently, Princess is the CEO of Princess Vision Eye Clinic Limited Abuja, Awka Eye Clinic Limited, and Awka Eye Foundation both situated in Anambra State, Nigeria which focuses on providing qualitative, accessible, and affordable eye care service that meets the need of every Nigerian irrespective of their social class. Princess holds a Doctor of Optometry degree from Madonna University, Nigeria where she emerged as the best graduating student, and a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Benin, Nigeria. She is also a certified Biomedical investigator from the University of Florida, Miami, a certified member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered), certified Health safety and environment professional from the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria, a member of the Nigerian Optometric Association and a YALI Regional Leadership Center fellow.

She has served in various capacities in the Nigerian Optometric Association including but not limited to participating, Organising and overseeing World Sight day programs, World Glaucoma week programs, Annual General meetings and conferences between 2015 – till date.

In 2016, she received a commendation letter from the Minister of Health for her advocacy geared towards brain drain in the Nigerian Optometry profession and was instrumental in securing more internship and job placements for subsequent Optometry interns and Optometrists in Nigeria. She is also a Nominee, Nigerian Optometric Association Young Optometrist of the year (2017), Nominee, the entrepreneur Africa Young Entrepreneur of the year (2020). Princess is deeply invested in developing Nigeria’s eye care sector which is driven by her passion and commitment to help people solve vision problems.

In 2020, she published an opinion piece on the World Economic Forum titled ” COVID-19 is putting millions of people at risk of blindnes”.

Princess is a World Economic Forum Global shaper and has served the Abuja hub of the Global Shapes Community as the Welfare Director and Secretariat Manger. she is currently serving as the hub’s Impact officer.

“As an 8 year practicing Optometrist, one of my favourite parts working in this role is that I get to help improve people’s quality of life by improving their vision, eye and general health. Something as simple as reading glasses and more so counselling can make a world of difference in helping a patient with their daily activities. Despite being challenging sometimes, it is always satisfying to successfully diagnose a patient, and provide a treatment or management plan.

Another fulfilling part is that optometry is a social profession where every patient has a story which is an essential part of understanding the diagnosis and recommending treatment modalities.”

– Dr Princess Ifeoma Ike