Medical experts call for periodic eye check-up

Medical experts have advised people who are 40 years and above to go for regular eye checks and consult a qualified ophthalmologist for treatment when diagnosed with an eye disorder.Dr Fatima Kyari, Registrar, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.The registrar spoke on the sideline of the second Advanced Glaucoma surgery course and Nurses Glaucoma training course at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH) Gwagwalada.Kyari chairs the Glaucoma Society of Nigeria and also a Consultant Ophthalmologist and Clinical Glaucoma Lead at the UATH.The ophthalmologist said that the training was part of efforts to combat blindness in the country.She described glaucoma as the 'Silent Thief of Sight', adding that frequent eye test was paramount as part of measures for early detection of glaucoma and treatment to prevent vision loss.According to her, the surgery course funded by the Tropical Health Education Trust (THET), is aimed at training of ophthalmic surgeons to improve their surgical skills and confidence.The nurses glaucoma skills course is to improve the nurses skills and competence in carrying out some special glaucoma tests for patients, and these tests include intraocular pressure measurement, visual field assessment and doing the optical coherence tomography (OCT).'Few days ago we undertook training for the Nigeria Glaucoma Guideline and Toolkit with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.See also Health minister to support establishment of poisoning treatment centres'We have a section that talks about setting up a programme on glaucoma care; it addresses public health interventions, advocacy and raising awareness on glaucoma.'For those under 40 years, we recommend that they have an eye test every two to five years and those 40 years above we recommend that they have theirs at least every two years.'But when we find a problem we recommend more regular eye examinations and early treatment, ' she said.According to her, if we are able to diagnose glaucoma early, we can reduce the risk of blindness so that the patients enjoy good vision for the rest of their lives with treatment.'We are raising awareness and talking to people during special health days, we also help patients to organise themselves through support groups to help each other.'As family members of glaucoma patients are at higher risk for glaucoma, we also advise glaucoma patients to ensure their families have eye tests to screen for glaucoma,' she said.However, the opthalmologist highlighted the importance of good eye-check, which she said created a ripple effect across well-being, educational attainment, economic productivity and good health outcomes.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the trainees are doctors Karinya Lewis, Winnie Nolan, Fatima Kyari, Adedeji Akinyemi and Abdullahi Mohammed and Mrs Elizabeth Ojeyinka (International specialists that matched up with the Nigerian glaucoma specialists).Meanwhile, t he partners are the International Centre for Eye Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London and National Eye Centre, Kaduna.Source: News Agency of Nigeria