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GLAUCOMA WEEK: NOA OFFER FREE EYE CHECK, LECTURES IN ANAMBRA …Describes Glaucoma as a silent sight thief



by Uzo Ugwunze, Ojoto

By Uzo Ugwunze, Ogidi, Idemili North, March 16, 2019(MOI). Following the rising concerns over sudden blindness, the Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA), Anambra State chapter has offered free medical eye tests and public lectures to people from Anambra describing glaucoma as a silent eye thief.
            The free eye check and public lectures which held at Iyienu Mission Hospital, Ogidi, Idemili North were part of activities to mark the 2019 World Glaucoma week themed ‘Focus on Glaucoma’.
            In his speech, NOA Anambra state chapter Chairman, Dr. Umeh Chigozie described glaucoma as a loss of sight because of intraocular pressure at the eye saying that it could only be detected through eye test.
            “When the intraocular pressure of the eye is high, it can damage the back of the eye called the optic nerve head which does not give any information to the person who is glaucomatic”.
            “Dr. Umeh said that 90 percent of persons with glaucoma were not aware while over 50percent have gone blind in one eye before they were diagnosed of glaucoma.
            He said that the essence of the public lecture for eye doctors and patients was to re train and inform the participants on new trends as regards prevention and treatment of glaucoma.
            In his lecture, Dr. Ezeanowai Chidiebere Ugo representing Dr Felix Olafisoye, Grand Mentor of Family of Optometric Mentors (FOM) classified Acute Angle Closure, Chronic Angle and Low Tension glaucoma into Primary and Secondary causes.
            Ezeanowai said that irrespective of age, hereditary or traumatic issues, primary glaucoma is painless and could result without any particular known cause while secondary glaucoma was as a result of accidents/trauma or adverse drug effect.
            He said that glaucoma was a disease commonly found among people of African dissents (Blacks) and occurs mainly between 35 to 40years adding that Hypertensive and Diabetic patients were prone to glaucoma.

            Ezeanowai advised Optometrists to avoid prescribing combination drugs to patients adding that they should start with stand alone or one class of drugs.
            “Be professional, be an optometrist with a difference. Always start treatment with monotherapy/stand alone drugs. Combination should be when there is no significant improvement in the patient’s eye” he said.
            The duo of the Secretary and Publicity Secretary NOA, Anambra state chapter, Dr. Mbamalu Emmanuel and Dr. Wilson Umeano respectively in their separate speeches urged people to visit the Eye clinic for proper tests regularly.
They said that glaucoma is a silent thief of sight adding that the increase in cases of blindness necessitated the FOM Workshop to keep the eye doctors abreast of new developments in fighting glaucoma.
“Locally Glaucoma is silent thief of the sight. Oftentimes it doesn’t have symptoms. We urge people to go for eye tests at least once yearly before it causes irreversible irreparable damage” said Mbamalu.
“There are things as a doctor one must know and not leave out in order to help reduce the percentage of people who go blind as a result of glaucoma saying that many people benefited from the free test at their clinics ”, Umeano said
 pics: Some members of Nigerian Optometric Association including the Anambra State chairman, Dr. Umeh Chigozie(4th Left) and the Resource lecturer Dr Ezeanowai Chidiebere Ugo(5th left) during the World Glaucoma Week Public lecture at Iyienu Mission Hospital, Ogidi

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