Bauchi – An Optometrist with the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital,Bauchi, Dr Iguodala Wilfred, has advised people with eye defects, to monitor the situation and ensure that it was not a case of ‘glaucoma’.
Fielding questions from a Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria in Bauchi on Thursday, Wilfred said glaucoma could cause instant blindness as it had to do with the nerves of the eyes.
“One way of early detection of glaucoma, is the narrowing of the ‘side views’ of the eyes. In any normal sight, when you look straight, you will view things by the side of your eyes.
“Any time the scope of your side-view starts narrowing gradually, something is wrong and the cause could be glaucoma. People with such experience are advised to go for eye checkup immediately.
“If the situation degenerates, the person affected will notice that he or she can only see things straight, no side views. We call it ‘tunnel vision’. The next stage will be for the person to become blind, once it is a case of glaucoma.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
“Glaucoma is a gradual silent killer, that can cause irreversible blindness because the nerves of the eyes are affected,” he said.
According to him, regular eye checkup, even by those who do not feel any sign of ailment, is highly recommended.
He also recommended the use of dark spectacles or sunshade, at the appropriate time, to protect the eyes.
“If the sun is too high, the rays affect the eyes. Under this circumstance, the wearing of dark spectacles will give cover to the eyes and is therefore recommended.
“It is however a different matter if someone wears dark spectacles in the night, for the purpose of ‘fashion’ or just to hide identity, like some youths do these days,” he added. (NAN)
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