Glaucoma: Abia First Lady advocates increased awareness, regular eye examination

The wife of Abia Governor, Mrs Priscilla Otti, says increased public education and regular eye examination are key to solving the problem of glaucoma in the society.

Otti said this on Thursday during an event organised by the State Government in commemoration of the 2024 World Glaucoma Week which will hold from March 10th -16th, in Umuahia.

The theme of the week long celebration is “Uniting for a Glaucoma-free World”.

Otti, who was represented by the deputy governor’s wife, Mrs Adaeze Emetu, said that statistics showed that 80 million people  across the world suffer from glaucoma, and  50 per cent were  unaware of their condition.

She said that persons  aged 40 years and above had an increased risk of having glaucoma, which can lead to irreversible blindness.

Otti said that the celebration serves as a reminder of the importance of having regular eye examination, because of the  pivotal role  early detection and proper management plays in tackling the disease.

She urged the people of Abia to take advantage of the initiatives provided by the government to combat “this formidable adversary”and improve the well being of the people.

Otti called on stakeholders to endeavor to raise awareness and deepen conversations about glaucoma to boost public knowledge about the disease.

In her speech, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Duties, Dr Betty Obasi, called for continued enlightenment about glaucoma in rural communities.

Obasi emphasised the need for regular eye examination as the key to early detection and strict compliance to  prescribed medication remains the major determinant of the efficacy of  glaucoma treatment.

“Let this be the start of a new era that United together we will make Abia State Glaucoma-free in the nearest future.

“The key is visit your eye doctor and get someone to visit the doctor for eye examination,” she said.

In her address, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Ngozi Okoronkwo stressed the need for the people of Abia to pay attention to their  eyes and protect their sights in order to  keep functioning.

Okoronkwo, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Health, Dr Iffy Uma-Kalu, said that building  eye centers in the Primary Healthcare Centers would  boost the campaign against glaucoma.

“One thing about glaucoma is that it is one of the causes of blindness, sometimes you don’t even  have the  symptoms which raises the need for the eye care to be made available in rural communities,” she added.

In his speech, Dr Anya Kalu, an Eye Surgeon, said that the campaign against glaucoma should be continue beyond the week marked for its commemoration globally

Kalu, who is also a patient of glaucoma for the past 24 years, said that instituting a sustained discourse about preventing glaucoma remains an effective mechanism for saving people from blindness.

He described the fight against glaucoma as a collective responsibility and advised the citizenry to go eye examination at least once, annually because glaucoma does not present symptoms when developing.

Earlier, the Chairperson of Nigerian Optometric Association in Abia, Dr Onyedikachi Ogbonna, described glaucoma as an eye disease that causes damage to the optic nerve.

Ogbonna said that this disease could lead to vision loss and consequently irreversible blindness if left untreated.

“It is often called the silent thief of sight as the symptoms are not always noticeable unit the disease has advanced

“This is why regular eye exams are crucial in detecting is essential in preventing vision, educating ourselves and loved ones about the risk factors and ensure a high quality of life,” she added.

World Glaucoma Week which is an annual event and an initiative of World Glaucoma Association is celebrated to raise awareness about glaucoma.

The event featured an awareness campaign rally through major streets of Umuahia, free glaucoma  screening and counseling.