Experts decry increasing cases of glaucoma

Consultant ophthalmologists who spoke at this year’s Glaucoma Day, held at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun State, decried the low awareness about the disease, arguing that that was why cases of glaucoma were on the increase.<--More--!> They called on governments at all levels to sensitise the public to the danger it poses to humanity. The physicians argued that this became necessary because glaucoma accounted for the largest number of blindness in Nigeria. A consultant ophthalmologist at the OOUTH, Dr. Oluwatosin Onabolu, said the disease accounted for about 40 per cent cases of blindness in the country, stressing that the level of awareness about it was disappointing. His colleague in the same institution, Dr. Moruff Ajibode, maintained that the disease accounted for 20 per cent of the total blindness in Nigeria among people of age bracket 40 years up. He said, “The disease is prevalent among the people of this age bracket due to the lack of awareness about its prevention and treatment.” The physicians also urged faith-based organisations to urge their members to undergo screening so that it could be detected when treatment is likely to be effective. They also recommended effective funding and equipping of the hospitals with modern equipment for the treatment of the disease. They canvassed the inclusion of awareness about glaucoma in school curriculum in order to curtail its spread. The Chief Medical Director, OOUTH, Dr. Alfred Jayesimi, said glaucoma should be tackled before it becomes national scourge.

8:59 pm