Glaucoma has led to blindness in more than 45,000 individuals in Ghana, making it the country with the highest incidence of Glaucoma infections in Africa.
Statistics from the Ghana Health Service (GHS) reveal that Glaucoma contributes to over 19% of all cases of blindness in the nation.
At present, approximately eight out of every 100 Ghanaians aged 30 and above, and nine out of every 100 Ghanaians aged 40 and above, suffer from Glaucoma.
During the 2024 World Glaucoma Week, Dr. Hornametor Afake, Head of the Eye Care Unit at GHS, informed the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that Glaucoma is the primary cause of preventable irreversible blindness in Ghana and globally, unlike cataracts, which are reversible.
With a prevalence rate of 0.74%, Ghana has around 230,000 people living with blindness, with 54.4% of cases attributed to cataracts.
Glaucoma encompasses a range of eye disorders leading to progressive damage to the optic nerve, resulting in irreversible blindness if left untreated.
Major risk factors for Glaucoma include elevated intraocular pressure, African descent, family history, aging, steroid use, myopia, and hyperopia.
World Glaucoma Week, organized by the World Glaucoma Association, spans from March 10th to 16th, with the theme “Uniting for a Glaucoma-Free World,” aiming to mobilize global efforts against Glaucoma-induced blindness.
Current global estimates indicate that 78 million people suffer from Glaucoma, with 7.7 million experiencing moderate to severe vision impairment or blindness. By 2040, it’s predicted that 111.8 million people will have Glaucoma.
Despite the high prevalence, more than half of Glaucoma cases go undetected in developed countries, rising to 90% in developing nations like Ghana.
Awareness campaigns are crucial as Glaucoma often manifests asymptomatically in its early stages, leading to late presentation and irreversible vision loss.
Regular eye examinations, beginning at age 20 and increasing in frequency with age, are recommended for early detection.
Similar to hypertension, Glaucoma is a chronic condition managed through medications like eye drops and surgery.
Healthcare providers, particularly at the primary level, are trained to detect Glaucoma early, especially in rural areas where most cases originate.
There’s a call for essential Glaucoma medications to be covered by the National Health Insurance scheme due to their often prohibitive costs.
Early detection, screening, and treatment are essential to prevent irreversible vision loss due to Glaucoma.