…Experts push for early eye tests
Health experts in Plateau and Kaduna States have raised an alarm over the growing burden of glaucoma, urging Nigerians to undergo regular eye examinations to prevent avoidable blindness.
The warning comes as authorities disclosed that more than 4,000 glaucoma patients were already receiving treatment in Plateau State in 2025, with hundreds of new cases are being detected annually.
The concern was highlighted during activities marking World Glaucoma Week, where stakeholders called for urgent action to curb the disease.
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Medical experts say glaucoma remains one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness worldwide and often develops silently without noticeable symptoms in its early stages.
Speaking during a Rotary meeting in Jos as part of activities marking World Glaucoma Week with the theme “Uniting for a Glaucoma-Free World.” Ramyil Alice, an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) warned that many patients only discover they have glaucoma when significant vision loss has already occurred.
Ramyil described the disease as the “silent thief of sight” because it gradually damages the optic nerve without causing pain or early warning signs.
According to her, glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, the structure responsible for transmitting visual information from the eye to the brain.
She explained that the disease progresses slowly and often without discomfort, making routine screening the most reliable way to detect it early.
Ramyil said increased pressure inside the eye, medically known as intraocular pressure, is the most common modifiable risk factor linked to glaucoma.
If not properly managed, she noted, the pressure gradually damages the optic nerve and leads to permanent vision loss.
She added that “Glaucoma exists in different forms, including open-angle glaucoma, which develops gradually, and angle-closure glaucoma, which can occur suddenly and requires urgent medical attention”.
The ophthalmologist explained that “Early symptoms may be difficult to notice.
However, in advanced stages, patients may experience loss of peripheral vision, blurred vision, eye pain, and halos around lights”.
Meanwhile, authorities in Plateau State have also raised concern over the rising number of cases.
Speaking during an awareness walk in Jos to commemorate World Glaucoma Week 2026, Nicholas Bamlong, Plateau State Commissioner for Health, described glaucoma as a serious public health challenge.
Bamlong said glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in Nigeria after cataract.
Similar concerns were also raised in Kaduna, where experts warned that Nigeria could face a major glaucoma burden in the coming decades.
During a public lecture at the National Eye Centre, eye health specialists estimated that millions of Nigerians are at risk of developing the disease.
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Olusegun Olaniyi, an ophthalmologist, said current estimates suggest that glaucoma affects about five per cent of Nigeria’s population.
With the country’s population exceeding 200 million, he explained that the number of people living with the disease could increase dramatically if urgent action is not taken.
Olaniyi noted that global projections indicate that glaucoma cases could rise to about 110 million worldwide by the year 2040.
In Nigeria, he said, surveys conducted across all regions of the country have confirmed that glaucoma is present in every part of the nation.
He added that the National Blindness and Vision Impairment Survey revealed that approximately five out of every 100 adults above the age of 40 are affected by the disease.
According to him, if current trends continue, as many as 10 million Nigerians could be living with glaucoma by 2040.
