Head of the Glaucoma Service at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Dr Olusola Olawoye, has stated that every Nigerian, like every black person, is at risk of glaucoma, a significant cause of irreversible blindness that is symptomless in its early stages.
Dr Olawoye, who made the disclosure at the launch of World Glaucoma Week at the hospital, mentioned that glaucoma occurs more than five times more frequently in blacks than in whites. Globally, about 100 million people are living with this eye problem.
According to her, glaucoma also manifests earlier in blacks, including Nigerians, and is highly aggressive. This underscores the importance of raising awareness about the eye disease and advocating for regular eye checks.
“Glaucoma has the highest prevalence among blacks; wherever you see black skin, you can expect a high number of glaucoma cases. It occurs early among blacks and is very aggressive, so it’s crucial that people are informed about the eye disease and understand the necessity of regular eye checks.
“If you are below 40 years old, it is important to check your eyes at least once every two years. If you are between 40 and 60 years old, please have your eyes checked yearly. This is crucial because initially, it doesn’t present symptoms—no redness of the eye, no pain, nothing. It is a silent cause of blindness, and by the time an individual realizes they have glaucoma, it is often too late.”
Dr. Olawoye emphasised that factors such as age, a family history of glaucoma, wearing prescription glasses, diseases like diabetes and hypertension, or a past eye injury also increase an individual’s chances of having glaucoma, irrespective of their race.
“For instance, diabetes is not just about increased blood sugar levels; it also affects all internal organs, including the eyes. A person with diabetes can develop secondary glaucoma and blindness as a result of diabetes.”
UCH’s Chief Medical Director, Professor Jesse Otegbayo, who inaugurated the week-long event, highlighted that eye pressure is a crucial factor that Nigerians must be aware of, in addition to blood pressure, blood sugar, and PSA (prostate-specific antigen) levels.
He commented, “the alarming thing about it is that the blindness caused by glaucoma is irreversible; it is akin to death, so whatever we can do to prevent it, we should do it.
“So, one of the numbers we need to be aware of, apart from those for blood pressure, blood sugar, and PSA for men, is the pressure in our eyes because when the pressure rises, it damages the retina, the sensory organ in the eye.”
Earlier, Dr. Tarela Sarimiye, also a glaucoma expert, encouraged Nigerians to schedule a one-month free glaucoma check at the hospital, emphasizing that screening is crucial for early detection and effective management, ensuring that treatment can be beneficial.
