World Glaucoma Week: No Nigerian is exempted from attack — Prof Olawoye

NATIONAL Chairman of the Glaucoma Society of Nigeria, Professor Olusola Olawoye, says every Nigerian, regardless of age, class, or gender is in danger of glaucoma, an avoidable cause of irreversible blindness, and therefore urged regular eye examinations.

Professor Olawoye, who made the disclosure at the launch of World Glaucoma Week at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, said glaucoma is a disease that occurs more commonly in Blacks than whites, particularly after age 40.

According to her, glaucoma is a silent thief of sight, and the only way to know individuals with the eye disease is through regular eye examination.

“If you are Black, if you are more than 40, or if you have a family history of this disease, whether it is your brother, sister, or even half-siblings, you need to check your eyes. It is a silent thief of sight.

“Unlike all other eye diseases where you have redness, pain, tearing, or discharge, with glaucoma you feel nothing. And yet it is doing its damage. The only way to know early is by having an eye examination,” she added.

Professor Olawoye, however, said about 50 percent of the individuals who present with glaucoma come in with one eye blind and the other one also blind, warning that once blindness occurs from glaucoma, it is irreversible.

She stated, “We must all take eye check-ups seriously. And we must create this awareness everywhere we go. And this week, we are going to be screening the public and members of staff on Wednesday and Thursday.

“So, ask that question: Is there glaucoma in my eye? If the doctor says there is none, you are good to go. But you must also check at least once every two years. If they tell you it is suspicious somehow, check the next year. Be sure that you take it seriously.”

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UCH’s Chief Medical Director, Professor Jesse Otegbayo, in a remark, stressed the importance of good vision and warned that people with dwindling vision should desist from buying glasses from the roadside but rather seek proper eye examination before having a pair of recommended glasses.

“At UCH, Ibadan, we have the capacity and the equipment, even the sophisticated ones for eye care. There’s treatment for glaucoma. And if not treated, it can lead to irreversible total blindness. So the best thing is to check the pressure of your eyes, just like we check our blood pressure.

“I’ve done it almost every year for the past 15 years, and I have no regrets. In fact, a diagnosis of pre-glaucoma was made, meaning that I don’t have glaucoma, but my pressure has gone up a little. So I must do something in order not to enter the glaucoma range, and I’ve been obeying her fully,” he said.