Glaucoma: Expert advises regular eye check up

An optometrist, Dr Agatha Mouka, has advised the public to always go for routine eye examination to prevent glaucoma and other eye diseases. She also advised people to avoid trauma or injury and self medication whenever they have eye problems.

Dr Mouka described glaucoma as a group of related diseases that damage the optic nerve which carries information from the eye to the brain.

Speaking during a free glaucoma eye screening exercise for civil servants in the state, organized by the Office of the Head of Service, Dr Mouka said the disease was the second leading cause of blindness in the world.

She listed some of the causes as high eye pressure and untreated eye infection, and hereditary causes among others.

While that glaucoma could exist without any noticeable symptoms, the optometrist said common symptoms include, blurred vision, loss of peripheral vision, tunnel vision, pains in the eyes and reaction to light.

Another optometrist from Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital Awka, saying Dr. Joy Nwankwo, enjoined civil servants to avail themselves of the opportunity to be screened as well as maintain regular check up as early detection helps to prevent blindness and impaired vision.

The State Head of Service, Bar. Harry Udu, had in a statement, said the exercise, which would end on December 14, was part of measures to prevent blindness and impaired vision among workers in the state.