By
Ishaq Hardawa
An opthalmologist with Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) Bauchi, Dr Rukayya Na’iya has called on people to go for regular eye check to save their sight.
Dr Rukayya Na’iya, a Senior Registrar ATBUTH, Department of Opthalmology stated this during a paper presentation organized to mark World Glaucoma Week.
She said Glaucoma is second most common course of blindness which affect 3.6% of Nigeria’s population.
“Glaucoma is like when there is a balance in the fluid that is produced in the eye, that fluid is called aqueous, it give the eye nutrients it need and clear off any unwanted material in the eye. It has regular flow the production and exit is balanced such that the eye has that pressure, when you touched it you feel just like a ball when is inpleted or depleted that is how the eye operates. When the drainage system is affected sometimes conjunically, like the baby born with that drainage system problem or may be from trauma when the angle is traum or it may be open like the primary open or may be the rate of production is too much, but majorly the increase in pressure with back pressure compresses on the layers of eye the retina, the nerve fiber and Optive nerve that carry visual impulses to brain that will now translate. If the pressure is sustain on the nerves of the eyes for years then the vision will start going without sign” she explained.
The opthalmologist identified some of the risk factors to include race, age, family history, others are high IOP and decrease Cornel thickness.
Dr Rukayya Na’iya advise people who are forty and above to ensure regular eye check at least two to four times annually.
In a remark Chairman Medical Advisory Committee of the hospital Dr Haruna Liman commended the department of opthalmology for increasing awareness on Glaucoma diseases that course irreversible visual loss.
Dr Haruna Liman appeal to Hospital Community to avail themselves with the opportunity to screen their eyes against Glaucoma to enable them know their status.
The theme for this year is world is bright save your sight.
