It accounts for regarding 16.7% of all blindness in Nigeria. She additionally highlighted warning signs such as rainbow-like halos around lights, frequent changes in eyeglasses, and difficulty including peripheral vision.
The upload Glaucoma: “12–14m Nigerians At Uncertainty Of Vision Loss” — FG appeared primary on Figures Nigeria.
Joined eye care services are being strengthened across principal, additional, and tertiary healthcare facilities to upgrade initial detection and instruction of glaucoma.
The ministry has developed Nigeria Glaucoma Guidelines and Toolkits to standardise diagnosis, treatment, and referral protocols nationwide.
Ophthalmologists from all 36 states and the FCT have been trained to establish declare-extent training programmes.
Moreover, further than 2,200 principal healthcare workers across 16 states have been trained under the Preferable Vision 2.0 Productive Spectacle Attain Initiative Nigeria to conduct essential vision screenings and refer patients to specialised facilities.
As portion of the week-lengthy campaign, free glaucoma screenings will be conducted in selected health facilities across 11 states and the FCT. Inquiry indicates that close to 5% of Nigerians aged 40 and above are affected.
To consider the topic, the Federal Government has prioritised eye care services under the Statewide Eye Health Strategic Development Scheme (2024–2028). The minister urged Nigerians, notably so those over 40, to prioritise consistent eye examinations.
“Initial detection across straightforward, painless tests is important. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, disclosed this on Wednesday during a press briefing in Abuja to score 2026 World Glaucoma Week, describing the eye requirement as a primary society health worry.
According to Salako, studies demonstrate that 90–94% of Nigerians using glaucoma persist undiagnosed, highlighting the demand for widespread awareness and regular eye examinations.
“This year’s theme, Uniting for a Glaucoma-Free World, is a contact for governments, healthcare providers, communities, and individuals to task together against the silent thief of sight,” he said.
Glaucoma is a collection of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, countless times caused by increased pressure in the eye, and can leader to permanent vision loss if not detected and treated in a little while. She advised caution against unsupervised utilize of steroid-based eye drops and reliance on unverified conventional remedies, which can worsen complications.
The Federal Government has raised concern that in the midst of 12 million and 14 million Nigerians are living together with glaucoma, a prominent cause of irreversible blindness, alongside most unaware of their requirement.
The Minister of Condition for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reducing avoidable blindness.
Glaucoma professional Magdalena Ajani warned that the disease regularly progresses lacking conspicuous symptoms. If diagnosed, adherence to medical counsel can assist halt progression,” Salako said.
Permanent Secretary Kachallom Daju described the metrics as relating to, noting that one in 20 Nigerians over 40 may have glaucoma, and most are unaware pending important damage occurs.
Source: Glaucoma: “12–14m Nigerians At Risk Of Vision Loss” — FG
