From Tongnaan Bawa Jos
A health expert has called on Nigerians to undergo regular eye examinations to enable early detection of glaucoma and prevent avoidable blindness.
The call was made in Jos during a Rotary meeting held to mark World Glaucoma Week, themed “Uniting for a Glaucoma-Free World.”
An Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Alice Ramyil, said glaucoma remains one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness worldwide.
She described glaucoma as the “silent thief of sight” because it gradually damages the optic nerve without noticeable symptoms in its early stages.
According to her, many people living with the disease are unaware they have it until significant vision loss has already occurred.
Ramyil explained that glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, which transmits visual information from the eye to the brain.
She noted that increased pressure in the eye, known as intraocular pressure, is the most common risk factor associated with the disease.
Ramyil added that glaucoma exists in different forms, including open-angle glaucoma, which develops gradually, and angle-closure glaucoma, which occurs suddenly and requires urgent medical attention.
She said although early symptoms may be difficult to detect, advanced stages may present signs such as loss of peripheral vision, blurred vision, eye pain and seeing halos around lights.
The ophthalmologist advised people aged 40 and above, those with a family history of glaucoma, and individuals living with diabetes or high blood pressure to prioritise routine eye checks.
She stressed that although glaucoma cannot be cured, early diagnosis and treatment such as medicated eye drops, laser therapy and surgery can slow its progression and help prevent blindness.