The Federal Government has raised concern that about 12 to 14 million Nigerians are currently living with glaucoma, a major cause of irreversible blindness, with the majority of cases still undiagnosed.

Speaking at a press briefing to mark the 2026 World Glaucoma Week, the Minister of State for Health, Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said studies indicate that up to 90 to 94 per cent of Nigerians affected by the eye disease are unaware of their condition, highlighting the urgent need for increased awareness and regular eye screening.

Salako described glaucoma as a serious public health challenge that continues to threaten the vision of millions of Nigerians.

“This year’s theme, Uniting for a Glaucoma-Free World, is a clear call for all of us, governments,healthcare providers, communities and individuals, to come together in the fight against the silent thief of sight,” he said.

According to him, glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, often caused by increased pressure in the eye, and can lead to permanent vision loss if not detected early.

“It is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, affecting millions of people and in Nigeria accounting for approximately 16.7 per cent of all blindness,” the minister said.

He added that recent studies show the prevalence of glaucoma among Nigerians aged 40 years and above is about five per cent, translating to between 12 million and 14 million adults living with the condition.

Salako said the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, had taken steps to address the challenge under the National Eye Health Strategic Development Plan 2024–2028.

“Under this plan, we are prioritising integrated eye care services across primary, secondary and tertiary levels to ensure early detection and management of glaucoma,” he said.

The minister noted that the ministry had developed the Nigeria Glaucoma Guidelines and Toolkits to standardise diagnosis, treatment and referral protocols across the country.

“We have also trained ophthalmologists from the 36 states and the FCT on this guideline, empowering them to establish training programmes in their respective states,” Salako said.

He further disclosed that more than 2,200 primary healthcare workers across 16 states had been trained under the Better Vision 2.0 Effective Spectacle Coverage Initiative Nigeria to conduct vision screening and refer patients to appropriate facilities for further care.

As part of activities marking the week-long campaign, Salako said the ministry, in collaboration with state governments and professional bodies, would conduct free glaucoma examinations at selected facilities across 11 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

He urged Nigerians, particularly those aged 40 and above, to prioritise regular eye examinations.

“I urge all Nigerians, especially those aged 40 and above, to prioritise regular eye examination at least once every two years,” he said.

“Early detection through simple painless tests is a critical element, and if you are diagnosed with glaucoma, strict adherence to the prescriptions by your doctors will help prevent progression.”

Also speaking at the briefing, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Kachallom Daju, said the statistics on glaucoma in Nigeria were alarming.

“Data suggests that one in every 20 Nigerians over the age of 40 is living with glaucoma, and about 90 per cent of those affected are unaware of their condition until significant permanent damage has occurred,” she said.

Daju stressed that the ministry was committed to reducing the burden of avoidable blindness in the country.

“No Nigerian should go blind from a condition that can be managed early,” she said.

She also commended the media for their role in raising public awareness about health issues.

“You are the bridge between mainstream policies and the gains of over 200 million Nigerians. Your role in demystifying the silent thief of sight is not just communication; it is an essential public health activity,” the permanent secretary said.

In a lecture titled Demystifying Glaucoma, glaucoma specialist and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Magdalena Ajani, described glaucoma as a disease that often progresses without noticeable symptoms.

“Glaucoma can actually snuff off your vision without any warning. It remains the commonest cause of irreversible blindness worldwide and also in Nigeria,” Ajani said.

She explained that about five per cent of Nigerians aged 40 and above are affected by the disease.

“Working with a population of about 240 million, we are seeing that about 12 million Nigerians are affected by glaucoma. These are massive figures,” she said.

Ajani noted that glaucoma causes a gradual and painless loss of vision, which makes early detection difficult.

“For many people, more than 94 per cent, they do not realise that they have glaucoma until they lose vision in one eye and the other eye begins to fail,” she said.

She said some early warning signs could include seeing rainbow-like halos around lights, frequently changing eyeglasses, or bumping into objects due to loss of peripheral vision.