OAGH offers free glaucoma screening to 2,500 beneficiaries in Lagos

No fewer than 2,500 individuals are benefiting from an ongoing free eye screening organised by the Orile Agege General Hospital (OAGH), Lagos, to commemorate the 2025 Glaucoma Week.

Dr Temitope Bakare, the Director of Clinical Services and Training at the hospital, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday that the programme was in its 4th edition.

Bakare said the screening was to ensure early detection of the disease.

She said that glaucoma was one of the leading causes of blindness in the world, hence the need to detect it on time for early treatment.

She noted that there were lots of social-economic barriers that hindered access to healthcare facility such as poverty, funds and lack of awareness, adding that the programme would help bridge such gaps.

She said:” OAGH has taken it upon itself under the leadership of our Medical Director, Dr Sola Pitan, to open up the department, free of charge for screening.

“We all know the importance of the eye to the human body and there is need for us to do regular health checkup to know the status of our health.

“We should start practising annual checkup and move away from the curative point of treatment, whereby we come to the hospital when we have health issues.

“The turnout has been encouraging since we started on March 10; individuals within and outside the community and even neighbouring states have been screened,” she said.

Also Dr Sheidu Nasiru, the Head of the Eye Department in the hospital, said the initiative was in line with the theme to bring everyone together to fight against glaucoma.

Nasiru explained that prevention of blindness from the disease was achievable if presented on time for early treatment.

He advised people to take advantage of the ongoing free screening test to have their eyes examined and create the awareness too.

“Preventions can be achieved through early detection and by doing regular eye check, especially for people that are at risk with family history, hypertension, diabetes and high eyes pressure,” he said.

Similarly, Atinuke Ajoloko, a Consultant Ophthalmologist with the hospital, said that a large number of people were at the risk of having glaucoma, due to age, genetic factors and people of colour.

Ajokolo who described the disease as “the silent thief of the sight” noted that there were different types of glaucoma, hence, the need for the people to have their eyes checked twice a year at least

She added that healthy diet was fundamental for good eyesight which should include fruits, vegetables, mangoes, cherries, beans, carrots, locust beans and guinea corn.

Mrs Ifeoluwa Jesutomi, a beneficiary, applauded OAGH for the initiative and for also sustaining the programme over the years