Chidinma Igboanugo: Debunking misconceptions about blindness or low vision

When purpose meets purpose, it can only bring forth a bigger purpose. The smart, ever-smiling and intelligent Chidinma Jennifer Igboanugo is the type of connection everyone should have. Wearing spectacles that complement her face and her medium-sized dreadlocks as her crowning glory, Chidinma is pursuing a worthy cause in the line of her specialisation. Having been denied from studying Medicine thrice, her mother suggested she go for Optometry. It has been nine years down the line, and she has never looked back or regretted that decision.

Chidinma, aka The Community Eye Doctor, who also champions visual inclusion, began her journey as a pro-sight advocate after seeing that there was a gap in the information available and eye health awareness of patients she encountered during her internship. She decided to do something about this, and it became part of her calling. 'Promoting life beyond sight' started as a form of awareness and gradually emanated to a movement. For her, eye health went beyond seeing, instead living fully through prevention, advocacy, support and empowerment.

She keeps asking the right questions. One of them is what's the meaning of Omote Ro Dhe? I was amazed by her curiosity. Asking her for a feature collaboration, she could have overlooked the details, but she wanted to know more, and she got the answer. In an exclusive chat, Chidinma shares why sight is important ( even though all organs of the body are vital). She also talks about her interests outside of optometry and advocacy. Chidinma is backed by parental influence as she makes reference to how her parents' values and guidance shaped her. She shares these and more. 

Read excerpts below:

Can you introduce yourself and tell us what led you to optometry?

My name is Chidinma Jennifer Igboanugo. I am an eye doctor, a passionate health advocate, and a champion for visual inclusion and rehabilitation.

I’ve always known I wanted to pursue a career in medicine. When I was six years old, I dreamt of becoming a doctor and that dream has stayed with me till now.

Like many aspiring undergraduates, I set my sights on Medicine and applied for MBBS—but I was denied admission three times. Lol.

During that period, my mom introduced me to Optometry while I was still determined to study Medicine. Long story short, I decided to give it a chance, even though I barely knew what the profession was about at the time.

Nine years later, I’m genuinely grateful I made that decision. Optometry opened my eyes to a side of healthcare I never knew existed and introduced me to a meaningful path where I get to help people see better and live better.

How would you describe your journey into becoming a pro-sight advocate?

My journey into becoming a pro-sight advocate was inspired by the patients I encountered during my graduate internship year.

I realised that despite the abundance of health information available today—and how easily it can be accessed—many of the patients I met still lacked the right knowledge about eye health or how to properly care for their eyes.

This gap often showed up as delayed intervention, harmful practices, and in some cases, vision loss that could have been prevented.

Like them, I was once clueless.

So now, I choose to share the knowledge I have through every platform available to me, helping people protect their sight and make better-informed decisions.

What does “promoting life beyond sight” mean to you personally?  

“Promoting life beyond sight” means different things to me at different levels.

It first began as a message about prevention, guiding people to protect their future by being intentional about their visual health, while also recognising the connection between eye health and overall systemic health.

Over time, it evolved into something deeper. It became about championing the dignity, independence, and quality of life of people living with blindness or visual impairment. It is a reminder that even when sight is limited or lost, life, purpose, joy, and possibility still remain.

Personally, it is a deep calling for me. It reflects my belief that eye care is not only about helping people see, but also about helping them live fully—whether through prevention, support, advocacy, or empowerment.

What are some misconceptions people have about blindness or low vision?  

There are many misconceptions about blindness and low vision, and one of the most common is that blindness always means complete darkness. In reality, many people who are blind still retain some usable vision and may perceive light, shapes, movement, or varying levels of detail.

Another misconception is that people living with blindness or low vision cannot live normal, independent, or fulfilling lives. With the right support, accessible tools, training, and inclusive environments, they can work, travel, study, play sports, build careers, and pursue personal goals just like anyone else.

Some people also wrongly view blindness as a curse, a personal tragedy that defines someone’s entire identity, or a burden to society. These beliefs are rooted in stigma rather than truth.

There is also the assumption that losing sight automatically means someone has “super senses” or that all their other senses become magically heightened. While people often develop stronger skills in using their remaining senses and adapting to their environment, blindness does not automatically enhance the senses.

At the heart of many misconceptions is one harmful idea: seeing blind people as less capable or less human. The truth is that blindness is a condition, not a limitation on someone’s worth, dignity, or potential.

What brings you joy outside of advocacy and optometry?

What brings me joy outside of advocacy and optometry is the simple but meaningful parts of life.

I deeply value time with family and friends—the people who keep me grounded, inspired, and connected. I also find joy in nature and the sense of peace, beauty, and perspective it brings.

I have a love for adventure and exploring new experiences, whether through travel, spontaneous moments, or stepping outside my comfort zone. I enjoy the feeling of discovering something new and making memories along the way.

And of course, I value me-time (those quiet moments to rest, reflect, recharge, and simply enjoy my own company). It helps me stay balanced and present in everything else I do.

One book or film that changed your perspective?

Reading All Marketers Are Liars by Seth Godin completely changed how I see influence and communication.

Before that, I used to have a negative perception of marketing. I saw it as people trying to push products or ideas onto others in an uncomfortable way. But the book helped me understand something very different: that marketing, at its core, is storytelling, meaning-making, and psychology.

It made me realise that in one way or another, we are all marketers. Whether we are sharing ideas, advocating for a cause, leading people toward a belief, or even selling something in a marketplace, we are constantly trying to help others see value in something.

That shift in perspective was so personal for me because it also made me reflect on my own journey. My mom, in a very real sense, “marketed” optometry to me. She introduced it to me, presented it in a way I could connect with, and gently guided my decision at a time when I was still holding on to a different dream.

Today, I don’t just see that moment as a career change. I see it as one of the most defining acts of love and guidance in my life. I’m deeply grateful she did.

Music or silence?

Both.

Music when I feel excited. It helps me express energy, joy, and movement in a way words sometimes can’t. It sets the tone for creativity and momentum.

And silence when I want peace and calm, or when I just need to reset and let my thoughts settle. Those quiet moments feel like a pause button for my mind, where everything slows down and I can simply be.

Sight or sound—which do you think people take for granted more?

Sight.

Because it shapes how we experience almost everything, yet people often take it for granted until something goes wrong. Unlike sound, which we tend to notice when it changes, sight quietly does most of the “work” in the background of daily life without much thought—until it’s affected.

What would success look like for you personally?

Success for me would be becoming the most fulfilled and unstoppable version of myself. Someone who continues to grow, evolve, and show up fully in every space I’m called to.

It also means learning to consistently overcome both the small and big challenges that come with life and purpose, while still staying grounded, resilient, and true to who I am.

Early mornings or late nights?

I honestly can’t choose.

It depends on what I’m doing. I’d choose late nights for something relaxed like a date or unwinding, but I’d choose early mornings for focused work like studying.

So for me, it’s less about the time of day and more about the energy the moment needs.

A quote you live by:

A quote I live by is something my dad often said at home: “Whatever is worth doing is worth doing well.”

I’m not even sure I’ve ever heard the exact wording elsewhere, but it has stayed with me over the years and quietly shaped how I approach life, work, and purpose.