No fewer than two million Nigerians are estimated to have glaucoma, with about 1.8 million people completely unaware of their condition.
Glaucoma is a visual impairment disorder that affects the optical nerves responsible for transmitting images from the eye to the brain, caused by increased intraocular pressure.
Speaking in Abuja at the weekend, the National Coordinator of the National Eye Health Programme at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Okolo Oteri said Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible vision loss globally and in Nigeria, adding, it is a debilitating disease that has an earlier onset and more severe course in individuals with a black history.
She said, “The Nigeria Blindness and Vision Impairment Survey reported that 0.78 per cent of Nigerians of all ages are blind. Blindness increased significantly with illiteracy and age, with 1.13 million (4.2 per cent) Nigerians over 40 years blind.
“Glaucoma was the second most common cause of blindness, with a prevalence of five per cent and accounting for 16.7 per cent of the burden of blindness with only 5.6 per cent knowing they had the disease, while 20 per cent were already blind.”
Oteri emphasized the lack of support for glaucoma from local and international donors, as well as the insufficient government ownership of the issue. Despite the global commemoration of a glaucoma awareness week, the disease has not received adequate attention and funding.
Following this revelation by expert, Africa Health Report sought the view of Dr Austin Otti, an ophthalmologist to enlighten Nigerians on how to know their glaucoma status.
He suggested that Nigerians should undergo regular eye screenings, particularly for individuals over the age of 40 or with a family history of glaucoma. stating, “also, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet and regular exercise, as this can help prevent the development of glaucoma.
Otti who spoke with AHR via a phone conversation, on Saturday, emphasized the importance of educating the public about the symptoms of glaucoma and encouraging individuals to seek medical attention if they experience any vision changes.
