SAVE AN EYE, SAVE A FUTURE by Akindele Olabode

Hmm, reflecting on life and asking very salient questions, how much do people really care about their lives?? How often do we go for medical checkups?? How many times have we had headaches, high temperature and simply conclude it is malaria. Hmm… Nigerians and self medication. May God help us!
I feel there is a need to be enlightened and be informed about some sicknesses or diseases that fly around and we aren’t aware of so we won’t be left in the dark until something bad happens. (Typical Nigerians be like ‘God forbid’). So today, I decided to do an exposition about an eye defect called glaucoma. I’m sure some of us must have heard of it before while about 65% of us wouldn’t. I feel it’s the reason it should be discussed about.
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a kind of eye defect which occurs a result of the damage of the optic nerve in the eye. (The optic nerve, also called the Cranial nerve II is a paired nerve that transmits visual information from the retina to the brain). This tells us how important the optic nerves are. The major risk of glaucoma is the increased pressure in the eye.
Glaucoma they say, is the second highest factor that causes blindness on planet earth after cataract (this is dead serious and this is why I chose to write about this defect.) W.H.O said so, (New statistics gathered by WHO in 2002, and published in their bulletin, resnikoff et al p. 844-851). To further burst your brain, research has it that it is rampant among African-Americans. I don’t know why Africa must be in the game’ (Bulletin of the world Health organization v.82: 2004) and the killing point is that its cause is irreversible.
Types of glaucoma
1. Open-angle
2. Closed-angle
It is true Africans don’t like to read but you have to read it up yourself because it is your health or see your doctor.
Symptoms of glaucoma
I’m so sorry to disappoint you, there are no symptoms opened to the layman. The only symptoms is that it can be recognized by the medical experts when they they see that is why you need a medical checkup TODAY!!!!!!.
Note this, the open-angle glaucoma is painless and does not have acute attack which is why you won’t know anything is wrong until you see your doctor. For the close-angle, only 10% of those who have it suffer from ocular pain i.e seeing halos around lights, red eyes and very high intraocular pressure, nausea and vomiting, sudden decreased vision, and fixed, mid-dilated pupil. But seriously speaking, what is 10% out of 100%. The fraction is just too small.
Causes of glaucoma
1. Dietary, well there is no clear evidence of an lack of vitamin that causes it. The only issue here is intake of caffeine increases the pressure which increases the damage of the optic nerve.
2. Genetics, if any person’s parent has it. You may need to visit a church.
3. Use of steroids.
Treatments
There are only two treatments I know and are widely known. They are
1. Medications (eye drops)
2. Surgery
Something crazy about this disease is that surgery or medications only stops further damage it will cause not that it makes the eye new again. The eye drop is to be used throughout your life time even if the surgery is done or not.
Please if you feel any little thing in your eyes, it could be only itching, or the eye getting red RUN TO THE DOCTOR!!!!
Note: this article is meant to bring about the awareness of this eye defect. You still need to read widely about it or consult your doctor for further discussions on this subject matter.

Akindele Olabode
Fac of law, Lagos