World Glaucoma Week: FG urges experts to develop early detection

By Kunle Sanni

As Nigeria joins the global community in marking the 2025 World Glaucoma Week (WGW), the Federal Government has called on medical experts, researchers, and technology innovators to develop improved methods for early glaucoma detection and effective treatment.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, made this appeal during a ministerial press briefing in Abuja on Monday. Represented by Dr. Michael Akpan, Director of Port Health Services, the Minister emphasized the need for proactive measures to combat glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness.

“Glaucoma is a silent thief of sight, often progressing without symptoms until significant vision loss occurs. Early detection is crucial in managing the disease and preventing blindness,” Dr. Salako stated in a release issued by Alaba Balogun, the ministry’s Director of Information.

This year’s World Glaucoma Week, themed “Uniting for a Glaucoma-Free World: See the Future Clearly,” aims to raise awareness among patients, policymakers, healthcare providers, and the general public about the importance of regular eye check-ups.

The Minister cited concerning figures, revealing that glaucoma affects an estimated 60.5 million people worldwide, with 87% of cases occurring in developing countries. A 2005–2007 Nigerian blindness and visual impairment survey found that 4.2% of Nigerians were blind, with glaucoma accounting for 16.7% of those cases.

Risk factors for glaucoma include African ancestry (making all Nigerians vulnerable), age over 40, family history, high eye pressure, diabetes, hypertension, eye injuries, and prolonged use of corticosteroid eye drops.

To combat vision-related issues, the Federal Government has introduced the Effective Spectacle Coverage Initiative Nigeria (ESCIN), also known as JigiBola 2.0, which aims to provide free vision screening and distribute 5 million pairs of reading glasses to Nigerians over the next three years.

Dr. Salako highlighted partnerships between the National Eye Health Programme (NEHP) and international organizations, including the Livelihood Impact Fund, Restoring Vision USA, and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), to support the initiative.