31/03/2026
Thank you hospital 😊
Given the importance of our sight, our team at the Ophthalmology department think there is a great need for continuous sensitization and awareness creation. Hence Dr. Ngwe Nche and Dr. Mbongha Precious have put this together. 👇🏾 👇🏾 👇🏾
Glaucoma is the first cause of irreversible blindness worldwide and 90% of those affected live in Africa. Worldwide, 78 million people are affected and this number is expected to grow with time.
The risk of having glaucoma increases with high eye pressure, age (40+ years), diabetes, myopia/short sightedness, eye trauma and the use of steroids.
Glaucoma destroys peripheral vision, and in advanced cases, central vision is affected. This increases risk for falls, accidents, and loss of employment. Because vision loss from glaucoma is permanent, affected people often suffer from anxiety and depression.
Research carried out in 3 eye hospitals in Bamenda town found that about 9 out of every 100 people consulting in these hospitals have glaucoma. These people often have good vision, however more than half of them already have moderate to severe glaucoma. Ten percent of them were already blind in both eyes.
This study found that, glaucoma is very prevalent in our community, however most people get to the hospital at advanced stages.
The only way we can prevent vision loss is for the whole community and especially those at risk, to screen periodically for glaucoma which when caught early, can be treated, and vision loss prevented.
We need a healthy functional society without vision loss and blindness from glaucoma.
Join us in our campaign to kill this "Silent thief of Sight"
