Welcome to the month of March. This month let’s focus on the silent thief of sight – Glaucoma – that slowly and painlessly destroys the optic nerve. Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world. It is a group of eye diseases that damages the optic nerve, usually due to high intraocular pressure (IOP). It often with no symptoms until significant vision loss occurs. Globally, Africa has the highest glaucoma prevalence and Nigeria is the most affected with over 1.8 million people living with glaucoma. Glaucoma is irreversible and sadly, almost 90% of glaucoma cases in Africa go undetected until irreversible vision loss occurs.
Although anyone can have glaucoma, those with a higher risk include those above 60+ (ideally) or above 40 for those of African/Hispanic heritage, those with family history of glaucoma, those with diabetes, hypertension or high myopia, those that use steroid medications for a long time and those who have had previous eye injuries. Usually, glaucoma does not present with any symptom at the early stages till it progresses and vision begins to decline (especially peripherally i.e from the sides). Other symptoms that may present include pain, blurry vision, headaches, nausea, halos around light, bumping into objects, vision loss and eventually blindness. It is pertinent to note that vision loss due to glaucoma cannot be restored.
Glaucoma can only be detected by a comprehensive eye examination, alongside other diagnostic tests, such as visual field testing, pachymetry and optical coherence tomography (OCT). We carry out all of these tests at our clinics. Schedule an appointment with us today!
Unfortunately, there is no cure for glaucoma and treatment such as eyedrops, laser therapy or surgery helps to reduce the rate of progression. Early detection helps to save your vision. You can protect your vision by scheduling an annual comprehensive eye exam, living healthy lifestyle, continuing treatment, if already diagnosed and spreading awareness.
Don’t let glaucoma dim your world. Early detection keeps life bright! Stay eye-to-eye with the latest tips. Follow us on our social media pages for more eye-opening insights.
Here’s to a March that’s clear, bright, and full of vision.