Studies have shown that it is one of the main causes of preventable irreversible blindness worldwide. The prevalence of glaucoma varies among different nations and regions. However, it appears to be highest among persons of African descent (ranging from 6.5% to 7.3%).
In a nutshell, studies have revealed that Africa is one of the continents with a substantial burden of glaucoma. The prevalence of glaucoma in Africa is twice that of the global prevalence. People of African descent are 5 times more likely to develop glaucoma and 6 times more likely to go blind from glaucoma. Yet 90% of people of African descent do not know that they are living with the disease. In Africa, only 1 in 20 is aware that he/she is living with glaucoma.
It is in the news that the National Eye Health Programme (NEHP) at the Ministry of Health in collaboration with Sheikh Zayed Regional Eye Care Center (SZRECC) yesterday joined commemorations marking ‘World Glaucoma Week’.
World Glaucoma Week is a global initiative of the World Glaucoma Association in order to raise awareness on glaucoma. It is celebrated annually and the goal is to alert everyone to have regular eye checks in order to detect glaucoma as early as possible.
Glaucoma has no symptoms in its early stage. In fact, half the people with glaucoma do not know they have it! But going for regular eye exams can help one to know his or her status before one loses vision to the silent thief of sight.
However, despite the challenges and nightmares it presented to humanity, there is light at the end of the tunnel. The good news is that glaucoma can be screened for, diagnosed and treated here in The Gambia. The most important need is to go for early screening to be able to determine your status.
Though it can affect people at any age, the prevalence increases with increasing age. So, it is important that people do regular eye tests and always visit health facilities when suffering from eye related problems.
This eye health disease is one of the most dreadful health conditions that continues to make life unbearable for people. Just imagine, the experience and inconvenience of not seeing alone is a distress and glaucoma thus affects the quality of life and social function of patients.
Thus, people affected by eye problems suffer not only from significant distress, but also from a significant financial aspect, especially quantifying the financial burden in terms of buying medicines and other health care services.