Experts Want Regular Eye Checks for Early Detection, Treatment of Glaucoma

As Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark the 2020 World Glaucoma Week (WGW), a consultant ophthalmologist at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT Teaching Hospital, Parklain, Dr. Nkiru Akaraiwu, has advised Nigerians to always undertake eye examinations for early detection and treatment of the eye disease.

Akaraiwu  who doubles as the World Glaucoma Association Governor for Africa gave the Advise in Enugu during a public health awareness campaign held as part of activities marking the week.

According to her, most persons who have the disease do not even know they have it because they still see which is why they often do not care.

She explained that In a survey done in Nigeria, it was discovered that of 100 people found to have Glaucoma, only five knew they had it while 95% did not know they had it.  

She noted that Glaucoma remains the leading cause of irreversible blindness as it damages the nerves for vision and once the nerve is damaged  it is permanent.

"It damages the nerves without their knowledge, and by the time it starts causing blurred vision for individual, the person must have lost more than 90% of their nerves. And the nerves lost cannot be recovered" she said.

She regretted that many Nigerians do not have the culture of going for routine checks as those who have been found  with Glaucoma still at an early stage are people who come to the hospital for prior treatments.

"We are hoping that with the awareness creation, people can generally begin to cultivate the practice of checking their eyes at least once every year.

She explained that Glaucoma is worse in Africa on the World scene  and that in Nigeria, it is worse in the South East. 

"It is such that the Igbo tribe has been pinpointed for developing Glaucoma and Glaucoma blindness. And when it starts, it begins at a very young age which is more aggressive and leads to blindness faster" she said.

The World Glaucoma Week is a joint initiative between the World Glaucoma Association and the World Glaucoma Patient Association which has had a highly successful run for the past 10 years.