As Nigeria observes the 2026 Glaucoma Week, the devastating impact of this “painless blinding disease” is evident. For Celestina Oahimin, 49, the diagnosis came too late. Losing her sight in 2013 due to financial constraints, she’s now dependent on her brother.
“I discovered glaucoma had affected one eye… I was given medications but couldn’t afford them regularly,” Oahimin recounted. Her story highlights the urgent need for accessible eye care.
At a free screening event in Lagos, Oyeleke Adeyanju, 76, shared her own battle: “My mother went blind from glaucoma. I got checked early and started treatment.”
Experts warn that glaucoma often develops silently, with 50% of sufferers unaware. Risk factors include family history, African descent, and chronic conditions like diabetes.
Dr Oluyemi Taiwo, Medical Director at Orile Agege General Hospital, stresses early detection: “Halt the progress through early screening and treatment.”
The World Glaucoma Association’s “Uniting for a Glaucoma-Free World” initiative aims to raise awareness and combat preventable blindness.
