A Consultant Ophthalmologist, Dr Festus Osoba, on Sunday urged Nigerians to ensure regular check of their eyes with the right professional to prevent late presentation of glaucoma disease.
Osoba, the Founder of LADKEM Eye Hospital, Surulere in Lagos, in commemorating the 2019 World Glaucoma Week was to create awareness on the dangers of glaucoma disease.
Creating more awareness of the public on glaucoma will encourage people, especially those above 40 years old to get their eyes screened for early detection, the Ophthalmologist said.
Osoba reiterated that people do not necessarily need to exhibit symptoms going for a regular checkup. Most of the patients only come to the hospital for late presentation when they can barely see, which means 80 per cent of the vision is lost.
There is a need for a more consistent sensitisation of people on glaucoma by health organisations and the government because nobody knows when glaucoma will develop in the eye.
Osoba said
He urged individuals and philanthropists to support and partner with the governments by being part of the success story of glaucoma.
“It will really help to discover and identify more people living with glaucoma, especially those that cannot afford the treatment.
“Glaucoma has no cure, but the treatment of the disease is for life, which means many people need to be assisted for regular checkup and treatment of glaucoma,” Osoba said.
