Esteemed colleagues and comrades in the field of eye care, today, Sunday 9th March, signifies the commencement of the glaucoma awareness week, culminating on Saturday 15th March 2025 as the grand finale. The theme is “Uniting for a glaucoma free world, see the future clearly”.
I seize this moment to shed light on the significance of this event for the Optometry community in Nigeria and how we can effectively propagate awareness nationwide.
According to the report by the World Health Organization (WHO) on vision, there are over 80 million individuals worldwide who are glaucoma sufferers. In Nigeria, glaucoma stands as a primary cause of irreversible blindness, with a prevalence ranging between 4.6% and 5.02%. The occurrence of glaucoma-related blindness is documented at 0.7%. Notably, the prevalence of glaucoma escalates among individuals aged 80 and above, particularly within the Igbo ethnic group and urban residents. Alarmingly, 94% of glaucoma cases in Nigeria remain undiagnosed or untreated, often leading patients to seek medical attention only when already visually impaired.
The treatment modalities for glaucoma exhibit gender disparities, with males predominantly receiving alpha-2 agonists and beta-blockers, while females are more inclined towards carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Glaucoma filtration surgery (Trabeculectomy) serves as a viable intervention for managing intraocular pressure.
Given the deficient awareness surrounding glaucoma in Nigeria, a concerted effort towards enhancing awareness and early detection is imperative to mitigate the incidence of glaucoma-induced blindness.
As we confront the escalating prevalence of glaucoma, it behooves us to contemplate actionable strategies to tackle this issue effectively and empower patients to advocate for themselves.
Collaborating with fellow eye care providers is paramount to ensure comprehensive care for glaucoma patients.
The Nigeria Optometric Association advocates for a patient-centric approach in glaucoma treatment, emphasizing the imperative for Optometrists and ophthalmologists to collaborate seamlessly.
I implore each one of us to introspect on the impact we can individually wield within our state chapters, districts, and communities, and unite during the glaucoma awareness week to effectuate the necessary change.
Optometrists, as adept case finders, play a pivotal role in early glaucoma detection through validated innovative screening methods delineated in the National guidelines for glaucoma management. Let us dedicate this week to fervent endeavors aimed at bolstering community eye health promotion and facilitating efficacious referrals, thereby envisioning a future where every Nigerian enjoys optimal vision.
In conclusion, NOA urges all state chapters to form state glaucoma associations or integrate with existing glaucoma associations in the state as a way to combine efforts to make patients take center stage in this all important fight against invisible glaucoma.
In anticipation of your commendable advocacy endeavors, the Nigeria Optometric Association extends its profound appreciation to each one of you.
Thank you and God bless you all for uniting for glaucoma.
Dr. Chimeziri Anderson.
OD(ABSU), MPH (uct), PGD(uL), FAAO(America), FNCO(Nigeria),FNOA.
.President. NOA