Gluacoma Week: Patients, experts urge early detection to prevent irreversible blindness

Gluacoma Week: Patients, experts urge early detection to prevent irreversible blindness

As the world commemorates the 2026 Glaucoma Week, the physical and socio-economic burden of glaucoma continues to have a significant impact on affected individuals and their immediate families.

Ms Celestina Oahimin, 49, who lost her sight to glaucoma, recounted her ordeal and the significant impact of living with blindness after discovering the disease had affected her left eye in 2013.

Oahimin, who attended the week-long free Glaucoma screening organised by Orile Agege General Hospital for 2,500 residents, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that financial constraints further worsened her situation.

Oahimin, who lives in Ogun state said she had been at the mercy of her brother who personally cared for her since she lost her sight and unable to do her business.

“I went for an eye check at Ayinke House (LASUTH) in 2013; that was when I discovered that glaucoma had affected one of my eyes before it eventually went blind, and presently I can’t see with both eyes.

“I was given medications and asked to use them daily but due to my financial status, I was unable to get the drugs regularly and it affected my second eye,” she said.

She appealed for more support for gluacoma patients through various intervention programmes, noting that it would prevent more people from going blind.

Oahimin also urged Nigerians to go for regularly eye check to avert sudden blindness.

“I have not given up and that is why I came all the way from Ogun State to check my eyes; government should do more and organise programmes like this to prevent more Nigerians.

“People should always take advantage of of programmes like this to know their eye status,” she said.

Mrs Oyeleke Adeyanju, 76,  who came for the free screening told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that she was diagnosed of glaucoma in 2023  and had since commenced treatment to halt the progression of the disease.

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Adeyanju said her mother had glaucoma, which later resulted in blindness before her death years ago, a situation that motivated her to seek early medical intervention and care.

She also urged general hospitals to shorten the duration of appointments to help prevent the progression of eye diseases.

She commended Orile Agege General Hospital for the free screening and medications while urging residents to take advantage of the programme.

VMT NEWS reports that the World Glaucoma Week is a global initiative organised by the World Glaucoma Association to raise awareness and together fight against preventable blindness

The theme of the 2026 week is “Uniting for a Glaucoma-Free World”.

Dr Oluyemi Taiwo, the Medical Director/CEO of the hospital, said the free screening was put together to create awareness about glaucoma, describing it as the painless blinding disease.

Taiwo, a Consultant Ophthalmologist, noted that the progress of the disease could be halted through early detection and prompt medical intervention.

“It is important for everyone to go for eye check or screening yearly for early detection of glaucoma and commence treatment immediately to reduce the prevalent rate of blindness caused by glaucoma.

“We don’t want to manage the late stage of this disease but at the earlier stage, so that we can reduce blindness in our communities, state and Nigeria at large, ” she said.

Speaking also, Dr Sheidu Nasiru, the Head of Eye Clinic at the Orile Agege General Hospital, said the week-long programme was designed to sensitise the public and provide free eye screening for residents.

Nasiru, a Consultant Ophthalmologist, said the disease often developed silently without signs and symptoms at early stage, progressing to irreversible blindness if not detected on time.

He said that about 50 per cent of persons with the condition were unaware  that they had the disease.

The ophthalmologist attributed high pressure in the eye as one of the major risk factors for glaucoma, adding that normal eye pressure usually ranged between 10 and 21 millimetres of mercury.

According to him,  glaucoma primarily damages the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain and enables vision.

Nasiru identified other risk factors to include family history, African descent, short-sightedness and having chronic medical conditions such as diabetes and hypertension..

He said:” Someone with glaucoma may still see clearly when looking straight ahead but gradually lose peripheral (side) vision, which often makes the disease difficult to detect early.

“Members of the public should seek medical attention if they notice unusual signs such as seeing rainbow-like halos which may indicate high eye pressure and individuals with family history should undergo eye examinations once or twice a year”.

He noted that treatment options included using eye drops, oral medications, laser therapy, and surgery, depending on the patient’s condition.

He emphasisied that patients placed on medications must use them consistently for life to prevent further damage to the optic nerve.