… organises free tests for residents, staff
The Medical Director, Randle General Hospital, Dr. Aduke Odutayo, has urged Lagosians, especially those in Surulere Community, to cultivate the habit of regular eye checkup at least twice a year in order to prevent blindness from glaucoma and other eye problems.
Dr. Odutayo, who is also an Ophthalmologist, made the call during a free eye screening test organised by the Optical Clinic of the hospital for staff and residents of Surulere community, adding that regular eye checkups, drug compliance and early diagnosis will help prevent blindness from glaucoma, an eye disease that is irreversible and incurable.
Her words: “There should be continuous secretion and automatic drainage of the aqueous fluid in the eye, but the moment there is an obstruction to the drainage channel, glaucoma sets in”.
“The accumulation of the fluid creates pressure at the back of the optic nerves which are responsible for relaying information from the retina to the brains. The ailment makes the patients experience scotopic vision, a condition which leads to a loss of peripheral vision”, she added.
The Medical Director maintained that there is no primary cause of glaucoma but certain factors that could predispose one to it include congenital factor, heredity, the use of steroids for a long period of time, diabetes, hypertension, old age factor (50 years and above) and certain infections of the eye, amongst others.
Odutayo listed constant migraine, hollows, loss of the primary vision, seeing flashes of light, Intra Ocular Pressure (IOP) and when the cup disc ratio is above 0.5 as some of the symptoms of glaucoma to watch out for.
She, therefore, urged Lagosians and residents of Surulere community to imbibe good eye practices like taking green leafy vegetables, oily fish rich in omega h3 and vitamins that will help the vision and sights.
The highlights of the event were the distribution of free medicated glasses to some of the staff, residents and participants at the free eye screening exercise.
