Glaucoma; A silent thief of sight

“I was diagnosed with glaucoma four months ago,” says Issah Salamatu, 2018

Just like the windows of buildings being the way to see the environment, the eye is called the window of our soul. The adventure, the beauty, the charm and the splendor of our world are appreciated by the eye. It is true but unfortunately 39 million are blind. Of these, glaucoma is second after cataracts as the most common culprit of blindness worldwide, accounting for 4.5 million blind cases according to the World Health Organization. Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Africa has a lion’s share of glaucoma cases with Ghana at the top of the list. Ghana is a place off the top of the glaucoma pyramid, closely following Saint Lucia. Historians believe that Saint Lucia was the final destination for some blacks (of Ghanaian descent) after the transatlantic slave trade in the 17th century. Extrapolative, the decent Ghanaians and the black race are most at risk.

I am telling the story of a 24 year old young woman who reported being blind in both eyes in the ophthalmology department at Tamale Teaching Hospital a few weeks ago due to glaucoma. “I didn’t know I was gradually losing my sight,” she says. Glaucoma is a silent thief of sight. It has an insidious onset resulting in total irreversible blindness if left unchecked. The second week of March each year is the week set aside as Global Glaucoma Week to raise awareness of this disease as it has become a public health concern.

Glaucoma is simply “hypertension” of the eye. An increase in intraocular pressure (the pressure inside the eye) to a level that alters, compresses, and ultimately, irreparably destroys a component of the optic nerve (the “ cable ” that connects the back of the eye. eye to brain) called ganglion cells, this helps us see. The pressure in the eye is explained by the fluid drainage system of the eye; if there is overproduction of the fluid (aqueous fluid), under drainage of the same or both. Unlike a balloon which explodes when too full to relieve pressure, the eye is unable to do the same but instead exerts pressure on the structures of the eye; the optic nerve is of notable importance. In a few cases, the pressure in the eye will be normal.

The cause of glaucoma is not known, however, there are risk factors that increase the chances of getting the disease. They can be modifiable (controllable factors) or non-modifiable (you can hardly do anything about them) risk factors. Decent African, family history of glaucoma and advanced age (> 60 years) is not modifiable, while myopia (myopia), smoking, diabetes related to alcohol consumption, hypertension, sickle cell anemia and chronic use of eye drops containing steroids are modifiable risk factors. These eye drops containing steroids are taken by people to relieve long-standing itchy eyes but increase intraocular pressure. That is why you need a doctor’s advice before applying these drugs which are not meant to harm you but overuse can cause problems. Modulating the above modifiable risk factors will reduce the likelihood of glaucoma. People whose risk factors cannot be changed can help themselves by having regular, faith-based eye exams on an annual basis. The reason is that glaucoma slowly and imperceptibly eats away at the sight.

Glaucoma is asymptomatic in most cases until it is too late to regain the lost sight, however, it can be nonspecific incentives: recurrent eye pain, nausea and headache, hitting people or objects in an unusual way, seeing halos or rainbow colors around light sources, persistent or recurring redness of the eye and tunnel vision (see objects directly in front of you but not objects to the sides ). During this glaucoma week, take a short trip to the ophthalmologist to have your eye checked.

Glaucoma can have a devastating effect on the socio-economic life of victims. A driver named Isaac Adongo is now unemployed because he has lost his sight. Even when detected before total blindness, the startling fear of permanent blindness sends waves of depression to sufferers. Families are made poor because breadwinners in their families suffer from blindness associated with glaucoma. I try to say get tested now. Surprisingly, glaucoma screening is free and covered by the National Health Insurance Plan (NHIS) across the country. EARLY DETECTION SAVES YOUR SIGHT.

Glaucoma is irreversible. You cannot recover the lost sight. It cannot be corrected but can be managed through lifestyle modification and medication. So TEST NOW.

MICHAEL BAAH BINEY

Final year medical student

University for Development Studies