NAN-H-24
Glaucoma
By Mohammed Lawal
Kaduna, Aug. 11, 2017 (NAN) An ophthalmologist, Dr Abdulkadir Lawal-Rafindadi, has appealed to the three tiers of government and non-governmental organisation (NGOs) to assist with modern equipment for early detection of glaucoma and other eye defects.
Lawal-Rafindadi of the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), made the plea on Friday while speaking with journalists at the National Eye Centre (NEC), Kaduna State.
It was preparatory to the 42nd Scientific Conference of Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria, scheduled for Aug. 22 to 25.
According to Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia, Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases which result in damage to the optic nerve and vision loss.
“The most common type is open-angle glaucoma with less common types including closed-angle glaucoma and normal-tension glaucoma.
“Open-angle glaucoma develops slowly over time and there is no pain. Side vision may begin to decrease followed by central vision resulting in blindness if not treated.
“Closed-angle glaucoma can present gradually or suddenly. The sudden presentation may involve severe eye pain, blurred vision, mid-dilated pupil, redness of the eye, and nausea.
“Vision loss from glaucoma, once it has occurred, is permanent.’’
Lawal-Rafindadi, who is also an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Secretary, Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the conference, said that modern equipment and machines would assist in early detection and treatment of the defect.
While identifying glaucoma as the main cause of irreversible blindness, the ophthalmologist observed that early detection was key to its smooth treatment.
He appealed to governments to sponsor glaucoma screening programmes in Nigeria so as to test those suspected to have been infected with the disease.
“The prevalence of blindness is high in Nigeria, but we are doing a lot to reduce the trend, as you can see, we are now doing a free-eye treatment.
“In years past, we use to have about 4,000 to 5,000 patients with cataract, but now we struggle to get 300 to 400, showing that we are doing a lot to reduce the burden of blindness in the society,” he said.
On the forthcoming conference, Lawal-Rafindadi assured participants from within and across the continent that Kaduna State was safe.
“We held our last conference in 2006, because of security challenges, conferences were not being held in the North for a long time, however, the region is now safe and peaceful.
“We are expecting participants from U.S, United Kingdom, Egypt, Argentina, India, South Africa, East Africa among others,” he said.
He advised people above the age of 40 to imbibe the habit of going for eye test at least once a year.
Prof. Elsie Sama’ila, the National President, Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria, said that the association had commenced free treatment of 150 to 300 patients with eye problems.
Sama’ila said that patients would be attended to for three days at the centre with a view to bringing succour to their lives.
She said that the conference would serve as an avenue for eye specialists from within and outside Nigeria to brainstorm and make recommendations to the government and other organisations.
Also, Dr Mahmud Alhassan, the Chief Medical Director, National Eye Centre, said that the exercise was targeted at cataract being the commonest cause of treatable blindness.
Alhassan, who is also the deputy LOC chairman, said that patients would be diagnosed, while those with simple treatment would be treated and those with major would be referred to the hospital clinic. (NAN)
KLM/JIE/GOK
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Edited by Julius Enehikhuere/Olagoke Olatoye