Glaucoma: Three People Who Must Undergo Annual Checks

An Opthalmologist at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), Dr Komolafe Rhoda, has identified three sets of people who must compulsorily ensure that they undergo eye checks annually in order to prevent glaucoma.
They are: people who have a history of blindness in their family, people who have someone with glaucoma in their house, and those whose family has a history of eye pressure.
“Just as we have high blood pressure, we also have high eye pressure. So, if someone in your family has checked and found to have high eye pressure, go and check your own and see if you have glaucoma”, she said.
Rhoda, who was speaking on the heels of the 2021 World Glaucoma Day, stated that the reason is that glaucoma is regarded as a “silent thief” that steals sight because most times people with glaucoma do not have any sign that they have it.
“The thing with glaucoma is that we call it the silent thief because majority of people with glaucoma have no complain, no sign, no symptoms. They are seeing very well, so they don’t come to the clinic for check-up”, she stated.
She used the opportunity to people to go for eye check-up regularly, whether they have immediate eye challenge or not.
“We just want to drive home the point that the public should go and check their eyes whether they have complains or not.
“The older you are, especially if you’re above 45, you must check your eyes yearly. If you’re hypertensive, or diabetic, you must go and check your eyes”, Komolafe said.
It would be recalled that as part of events marking this year’s World Glaucoma Day, the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt, Atlantic City, District 9141, in conjunction with the RSUTH, carried out a total of 21 free cataract surgeries in the State.

By: Sogbeba Dokubo