Glaucoma: 50% Knowledge Is Half Solution -Victim

The Coordinator of Mild Kilali Foundation, Mrs. Mildred Oguara, has called on the populace to ensure that they are screened for glaucoma on regular basis.
Oguara, who stated this recently during an exclusive interview, noted that such screening is essential because awareness of the status of one’s eyes is an indication that half of the problems of the eye is solved.
“50 percent knowledge is half the solution. When you know what is wrong, you’ve solved half of the problems”, she said.
According to Oguara, who had been a victim of glaucoma, Mild Kilali Foundation was the result of her experience as a victim of glaucoma.
“ I have been a victim of it (glaucoma). I was lucky enough to find out about it before it did major damage to my eyes, and life”, she stated.
The CEO of the Foundation, therefore, called on all and sundry to ensure that they carry out eye examination as often as possible.
Glaucoma, she explained, is a common condition that damages the eye’s optical nerve, and often gets worse overtime.
“It is often linked to a build-up of pressure inside the eye, and can run in families”, she said.
She stated further that the most common type of glaucoma is the Open-Angle glaucoma, which often has no symptoms other than slow vision loss.
The second type, Angle-Closure glaucoma, although rare, is a medical emergency, and it’s symptoms include pains in the eyes, with nausea and sudden visual disturbance.
Towards preventing blindness in as many people as possible in Rivers State, Mrs. Oguara said the Foundation recently carried out free eye screening in Port Harcourt, in which over 60 persons were screened.
Those who were diagnosed of glaucoma-related problems were referred to tertiary healthcare facilities in the State to access treatment and care.

By: Sogbeba Dokubo