Dr Veronica Akuete, A Consultant Optometrist and , Medical Director, Forst Eye Clinic, Lagos, on Friday, warned that studies have shown relative increase in the cases of glaucoma in the country.
“There were likely to be more cases, because of low awareness about the disease that causes irreversible blindness.
“Studies have shown that we have 16.7 per cent prevalence of glaucoma in Nigeria, but I can tell you that it can even be more.
“Awareness is very low. We really need to focus on glaucoma because it is becoming an epidemic,” she said.
According to the optometrist, glaucoma a disease that causes blindness without prior warning to the patient, it is also a group of disorders characterised by progressive neuropathy that results in a characteristic appearance of the optic disc.
With a specific pattern of irreversible visual field defects associated frequently but not invariably with raised intraocular pressure.
She further explained that the normal eye pressure is between 10 to 21mm mercury but any pressure above 24mm is high.
Dr. Veronica said a high intraocular pressure doesn’t mean an individual has glaucoma but makes that person a suspect.
She advised people to go for glaucoma screening; particularly those with family history of blindness or glaucoma, diabetes, hypertension and those over 40 years.
The doctor said it would help them know what she referred to as their ‘G-Status’.
“I always tell people, ‘please if one person has been blind in your family make sure you go for an eye test to screen for glaucoma.
“In my clinic, we ask for a patient’s G-Status. We say, ‘are you sure it’s okay?,” she said.
Akuete reiterated that blindness caused by glaucoma was irreversible.
She also advised people to maintain a healthy lifestyle, eat lot of fruits and vegetables, particularly those rich in beta carotene.
Akuete called on Health Management Organisations (HMOs) and governments to help make screening and treatment for glaucoma accessible to more people.
