The Ophthalmology Department of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) joined the rest of the world to celebrate the 2022 edition of the World Glaucoma Day themed “The World Is Bright, Save Your Sight”.
During a sensitisation program to educate and enlighten patients and the general public around the hospital environs, Dr. Mary Ngwu, a Consultant Ophthalmologist and Head of Ophthalmology Department at the LASUTG alongside her colleagues paid a courtnesy visit to the Chief Medical Director, Professor Adetokunbo O. Fabamwo and other members of the hospital management.
She described glaucoma as a disease that causes damage to the optic nerve and advised that people should constantly go for eye check-up because glaucoma, which is generally called the ‘silent beep’ usually does not give any warning signs before irreparable damage is done to the eye.
While emphasizing that everyone should take advantage of the free screening exercise being carried out, Dr. Ngwu said, the disease has no age barriers and mentioned that some babies are even born with it. She also emphasised that it is most common in individuals from the ages of 40 and above and can be inherited from parents.
Dr. Ngwu stressed that the objective of the annual celebration of World Glaucoma Week every March 7-13 each year, is for eye care professionals to create series of engaging activities that would gear the general public to take steps towards sight preservation.
