By Dorcas Elusogbon
Ile-Ife (Osun), March 16, 2023
More than 3,000 glaucoma patients received treatment at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC) in the past one year.
Prof Bernice Adegbehingbe, Head of Ophthalmology at OAUTHC made the disclosure during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the 2023 World Glaucoma Week.
The theme of this year’s event is “The World is bright, Save your Sight”.
This year’s World Glaucoma Week from March 13 to March 16, featured Glaucoma awareness talk, Radio Programme and screening for patients, among others.
According to Adegbehingbe, Glaucoma leads to total blindness and the common causes of irreversible blindness.
Adegbehingbe, a Consultant Ophthalmologist, said that early diagnosis remained the only way out to avoid glaucoma.
She stated that anybody above 40-years with family history of diabetes, hypo/hypertension, migraine and sickle cell patients are prone to have glaucoma, because it is hereditary.
She advised all to check their eyes at least once in two years, for them to ensure their eyes are healthy.
Adegbehingbe condemned the lackadaisical attitudes of Nigerian leaders over the health and eye care of citizens.
She said that only government workers were enjoying health insurance scheme, compared to what obtained in developed countries.
She urged government to mandate glaucoma test for students seeking admission from primary to tertiary Institutions as well as job seekers in other to eradicate the disease among the young and aged.
Adegbehingbe noted that while the sight of cataract patients could be restored through surgery, glaucoma has no remedy.
She commended government and private bodies which organise cataract surgery, free eye screening and glasses for the public and urged more emphasis on glaucoma.
She appealed to government and philanthropists to subsidise drugs for glaucoma patients in view of their high costs.
Adegbehingbe also urged government to place treatment and drugs for glaucoma patients under NHIS for the relief of the patients.
Also, the President, Glaucoma Association of Nigeria, OAUTHC, Mrs. Lydia Oke, lauded ophthalmologists at the teaching hospital for giving glaucoma patients the best treatment.
Oke urged government to come to their aid by subsidising their drugs which are too expensive, saying that many glaucoma patients were already going blind due to inadequate care.
