By Bilkisu Abdullahi-Yahuza
World Glaucoma week is set aside to sensitize and creates awareness about the ills of the severe disease that causes loss of vision by damaging the optic nerve.
According to the Word Health Organization, glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness after cataracts globally hence the need for a special week to create awareness.
Established by the World Glaucoma Association and World Glaucoma Patient Association, the day highlights the importance of early detection in slowing the progression of glaucoma and that regular eye tests are the only way to detect symptomless early.
Speaking on the importance of the week, a consultant Ophthalmologist with Kogi State Specialist Hospital, Lokoja Doctor Kayode Ekundayo explained that it is the leading cause of blindness in Black and Latin persons saying the screening of higher-risk patients is essential to minimize vision loss and prevent irreversible blindness.
According to the ophthalmologist it is estimated that about fifty percent of glaucoma cases are undiagnosed noting that the blindness caused by it could be prevented through early detection and treatment.
He urged people with relatives suffering from glaucoma to as a matter of urgency go for glaucoma screening to prevent further damage.
According to him, Wearing eye protection and taking prescribed eye drops and medicines regularly are preventive measures to avoid contact with the disease.
The President-elect, the Kogi State Chapter of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), and a Consultant Ophthalmologist with the Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH), Lokoja, Doctor Owa Yetunde explained that many patients with glaucoma do not have symptoms early because of its slow and progressive nature.
According to Doctor Yetunde, it is possible to treat glaucoma with the use of medicines and eye drops to reduce eye pressure and the risk of surgery.
Dr. Yetunde advised patients to strictly follow Doctor’s instructions stressing that none of the treatment options can cure the disease totally.
She emphasized the need for regular eye screening examinations for early diagnoses which she described as simple and painless.
One of the victims who lost his sight to Glaucoma after finishing a Higher National Diploma (HND), Mr. Mike Aribido appealed to people to always go for eye screening stressing that he wished he had such an opportunity to save his sight.
Mike who described life as difficult without his sight explained that glaucoma is the worst thing that could happen to a man.
Causes of glaucoma include age, race, Family history of glaucoma, and certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, migraines, high blood pressure, sickle cell anemia, extreme near-sightedness, or far-sightedness, among others.
The theme for this year’s glaucoma week is “The world is bright, save your sight”.
World Glaucoma Week is observed in the second week of March and takes place from the 12th to the 18th of March every year.
