Towards reducing the alarming rate at which many people are going blind from glaucoma nowadays, Nigerians have been advised to undergo regular eye screening for early detection of eye diseases, especially those with family history of glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness.
A Consultant Ophthalmologist and Chief Operating Officer, Me Cure Eye Centre, Lagos, Dr. Adegboyega Alabi, who gave the advise, revealed that early detection through regular and complete eye examination was crucial to protecting vision from damage caused by glaucoma, while appealing to government to subsidise the cost of treatment for glaucoma patients.
Alabi said glaucoma is an eye disease that affects the optic nerves, gradually damaging the fibres in an irreversible manner till blindness occurred, if no intervention is undertaken, adding that glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the world, affecting over 45 million people.
According to him, glaucoma has no cure and many people don’t know that they have it. “It is only when they undergo free eye screening exercises that they often discover it. That is why the message now is ‘get your eyes tested for glaucoma; save your sight’, he said.
Identifying early detection as key in preventing glaucoma, the ophthalmologist, stressed that glaucoma is the cause of avoidable blindness.
“Glaucoma is referred to as ‘the silent thief of sight’. This is because it slowly damages the eye and causes irreversible loss of vision to the sufferer. So, glaucoma can be avoided if the disease is discovered early,” he added.
The eye specialist said to beat invisible glaucoma in the country, Nigerians should walk into any eye care standard facility and have their eyes evaluated or checked for glaucoma.
Lamenting the socio-economic impact of glaucoma, the ophthalmologist revealed that over 45 million people are suffering from glaucoma all over the world, stressing that the eye disease was on the increase in Nigeria, despite the lack of available data on the number of Nigerians affected.
He described glaucoma as a burden on the immediate family and community of those suffering from the eye condition, as they now depend on others for survival, besides the huge cost of managing the disease for life.
Adegboyega identified advancing age, family history of glaucoma, being black, high pressure in the eye, migraine, and high blood pressure as risk factors for developing glaucoma.
Listing various ways individuals, communities and governments could beat this eye ailment, Adegboyega said: “For individuals, they should present themselves for screening and check, whether they have it or not. Know your glaucoma status, as we have in HIV, that is the
message.”
While calling for community participation and enlightenment in the fight against disease, Adegboyega urged the government to increase funding for the health sector and also subsidise cost of treatment for glaucoma patients.
