Mr Kolawole Samson, a retired civil servant returned from work, ate his supper and went to bed but waking up the next day, he realised he couldn’t see again.
Family, friends and neighbours attributed his sudden blindness to “a spiritual attack” but when he sought the help of ophthalmologists, it was discovered he had glaucoma – a disease popularly called the “thief of the eye”.
Describing what glaucoma is, during the meeting of Glaucoma Association of Nigeria (GAN), LUTH branch, Consultant ophthalmologist at the teaching hospital, Dr Adeola Onakoya, said glaucoma is an eye disease which gradually causes vision loss.
According to her, this usually happens when the optic nerves that carries images from the eye to the brain becomes damaged.
People, Onakoya said cannot feel the pressure that causes glaucoma, adding that they need an eye examination to check the pressure and the health of their optic nerve.
She said: “This results in gradual vision loss. It usually begins in the side vision before slowly move inward until the vision is lost completely if left untreated. In most cases, the optic nerve becomes damaged by the pressure inside the eye called intraocular pressure (IOP).
“When the pressure in the eye is too high, it pushes on the cells that make up the optic nerve. Over time, this is pressure damages the cells and causes them to die eventually. This is what causes permanent vision loss. Damage to the optic nerve can happen slowly, so it is difficult to notice.”
Onakoya said about two million people are living with the ailment in Nigeria. This figure, she said, represented about 20 per cent of people above 40 years.
She said no fewer than 200,000 people are blind across the world, adding that glaucoma is the second leading cause of visual impairment after cataract. It also represents 17 per cent, she said.
Onakoya, who is a glaucoma specialist, said of 4.2 per cent blindness rate glaucoma represents 0.7 according to the Nigeria National Blindness Survey 2005 to 2007.
She said no fewer than 2,400 glaucoma patients visit LUTH monthly to receive treatment, adding that majority of them present late.
She said everybody can get glaucoma but the condition is common in older people, especially those above 60 years.
“Also, people with IOP and those with family history of the condition. Black Africans and Asians. People who are very near-sighted. People who use steroids to treat conditions such as asthma and those who have had eye injuries or eye surgery, which can damage the pressure-regulating system of the eye.
She said patients can use medications such as eye drop to lower the pressure of the eye. Laser therapy or surgery can be used if the medications are not enough.
These treatment, she said should begin early because once vision is lost, it could not be recovered.
Chairman, GAN, LUTH Branch, Chief Adesiyakan Adeduro recommended regular eye check to ensure early detection of glaucoma.
He noted that the best way to treat glaucoma is for it not to lead to blindness, adding that medications such as eye drops are essential to prevent going blind.
“The condition is hard to manage because of the fund involved as eye drops are quite expensive and not many patients can afford them,” he stated.
Prof Adebukunola Adefula-Ositelu urged people living with eye problem to take medications appropriately. She advised that no drug should be taken late at night, especially shortly before bed time to avoid it having adverse effect on the eyes.
Eye drops are to help stabilise the eye pressure, she added.
She said: “People with eye problem must always keep to doctors appointment and must complete treatment. Do not lie down with your eyes faced down, because this would bring up the eye pressure and thus damage the eye.”
Onakoya said water was good for the body but noted that a glaucoma patient should not take more than half a cup at a time every 30 minutes than gulping down two cups and more.
She stressed that the correct and timely use of anti-oxidants, eye drops as well as eating of raw fruits and vegetables such as cabbage, garden egg and grape would help in the recovery of the eye.
Head of Department, Ophthalmology, LUTH, Prof Folasade Akinsola said patients should keep to their appoitment date in the clinic and use their medications correctly.
She advised that when applying the eye drop, it should be dropped on the lower part of the eyes and the eyes should be closed gently.
