Azra Hoosen | ah@radioislam.co.za
13 March 2024 | 15:30 CAT
3 min read

As Glaucoma Awareness Week unfolds, alarming statistics reveal that only one in every 20 individuals is aware they have this debilitating eye condition. Glaucoma, characterised by damage to the optic nerve crucial for maintaining vision, stands as one of the foremost causes of irreversible blindness in Africa, impacting over 6 million people.

This week serves as a poignant reminder of the critical importance of early detection and treatment in combating the silent threat of glaucoma.

Glaucoma, known as the “silent thief of sight”, manifests without noticeable symptoms in its early stages, emphasising the critical need for regular eye examinations. Risk factors include age, family history, race, high intraocular pressure, and certain medical conditions.

Executive board member of the South African Glaucoma Society (SAGS), Dr Daemon McClunan, highlighted the reason why glaucoma is known as the “silent thief of sight” in an interview with Radio Islam.

“Glaucoma is painless and causes a very gradual loss of peripheral vision, so people only become aware of it once extensive damage has been done; this is why we advocate for screening in high-risk patients so we can stop it in its tracks before it causes permanent damage,” he said.

According to McClunan, glaucoma tends to manifest at an earlier age and progresses more aggressively in individuals of African descent compared to their Caucasian counterparts, resulting in an earlier onset of blindness.

He highlighted that in Sub-Saharan Africa, the prevalence of glaucoma remains alarmingly high, largely due to a lack of accessible screening services. This deficiency contributes significantly to the many individuals unaware of their condition until it reaches advanced stages.

“There are various factors at play, but overall, African patients genetically are predisposed to getting glaucoma at a younger age and also getting higher pressures, so they get it more rapidly and are less responsive to surgical treatments, which poses a challenge for us in managing it in African patients. Asians are particularly prone to a specific type of glaucoma, but in South Africa, we see a whole spectrum of glaucoma due to a large mixed-race population,” he said.

At first, glaucoma does not usually have symptoms, but over time, some noticeable symptoms may include gradual loss of peripheral vision, blurred vision, halos around lights, eye pain or redness, and nausea or vomiting in severe cases. Screening for glaucoma involves comprehensive eye exams, including tonometry, ophthalmoscopy, perimetry, gonioscopy, and special investigations like Optical Coherence Tomography.

Treatment aims to lower intraocular pressure and prevent further optic nerve damage. Medication, eye drops, laser therapy, and surgical procedures may be used based on individual needs.

“Many different treatments are available, but we don’t have a treatment that can definitively, safely, and reliably prevent the progression of glaucoma. We can get it under control in milder forms, but in more severe cases, we are often losing the battle. There is a lot of work being done in this field, but it is still a big challenge we face,” said McClunan.

Accessing support networks and resources is vital for individuals and families navigating the challenges of living with glaucoma.

LISTEN to the full interview with Muallimah Annisa Essack and Specialist Ophthalmologist Dr Daemon McClunan, here.