Expert urges Kenyans to go for eye check-ups
By Milliam.Murigi, March 13, 2024Kenyans were yesterday advised to go for regular eye check-ups to help detect diseases such as glaucoma early enough.
Speaking in Nairobi during the celebration of World Glaucoma Day, Dr Sheila Marco, Consultant Ophthalmologist and Glaucoma Specialist at Aga Khan University said regular eye examinations are as important as for any other disease.
“Glaucoma is a disease that causes progressive and irreversible damage to the eye, which slowly leads to blindness. There is usually no warning or obvious symptoms to detect it until marked irreversible loss of vision has occurred and this has led to glaucoma being described as “the sneak thief of sight”.”
Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world, according to World Health Organization. It is estimated that total number of suspected cases of glaucoma is over 60 million worldwide.
Locally, statistics from Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), shows that Kenya’s glaucoma prevalence is at 4.3 to five per cent. M
arco said the disease is usually associated with increased pressure within the eye. Once the pressure builds up to high levels, there is damage to the optic nerve.