As the world ended the observation of World Glaucoma Week last week, study has shown that not less than 4.5 million Nigerians suffer from the incurable eye disease.

The revelation was made by Head of Department of Opthalmology in the state-owned Braithwaite Specialist Memorial Hospital (BSMH), in Port Harcourt, Dr Godswill Pepple, in a media chat.

Dr Pepple stated that aside cataract, glaucoma is the second highest cause of blindness in the world and in Nigeria as well, warning that it affects the blacks more than the whites.

The opthalmologist, who stated that glaucoma leads to gradual loss of vision, described the eye disease as “a silent thief of vision,” since most times, it doesn’t come with any symptoms.

In few cases, however, he explained that the eye disease comes along with severe headache due to increased blood flow in the eyes and leads to nausea and blurred vision.

With the increased blood flow in the eyes, he stated that the optic nerves are damaged gradually, thereby making it difficult for those affected to see properly.

He also pointed out that those with short sight problems are more susceptible to develop glaucoma, and therefore called for regular eye checks by those above 40 years of age.

Dr Pepple further stated that, “it’s a very serious eye devastation. In BSMH we have treatment if one is registered in the free medical. It’s free even the drugs is free.”

The eye expert while calling for early detection of the disease, assured that when once the symptoms are diagnosed early, it is easy to either halt or eliminate the malaise. “The treatment for glaucoma is to preserve the remaining vision, but it cannot bring back the one that is lost,” he said.

While lamenting that over 80 per cent of the populace have not heard about the eye disease, Dr Pepple called for increased enlightenment campaigns, and warned those who resort to self medication by using urine, water and steroid eye drops to desist or face permanent damage to their eyes.