Umuahia: The Abia government says 6,381 confirmed cases of glaucoma have been recorded in the state from Sept 2024 to March 2026.
Dr Betty Emeka-Obasi, Administrator of the Abia Eye Health Management Bureau, disclosed this on Thursday in Umuahia during the World Glaucoma Week 2026 symposium.
The symposium promoted glaucoma awareness and collective action.
Emeka-Obasi said the actual number of cases was likely higher because many people remained undiagnosed.
Glaucoma, as she described, is a leading cause of irreversible blindness in Nigeria. It affects millions of people, with Africa bearing the heaviest burden globally.
Citing illiteracy and quackery as partial causes, Emeka-Obasi urged stakeholders to join forces in fighting the “silent epidemic”.
She said the bureau had upgraded four public eye health centres and served more than 20,500 patients.
She added that the bureau had conducted over 13,500 free eye screenings across the state.
Conducting more than 2,000 sight-restoring surgeries, the bureau also demonstrated its commitment to eye health.
She said 10 vision centres had been established within primary healthcare centres to improve access to eye care.
Emeka-Obasi said Gov. Alex Otti signed an Executive Order establishing the bureau in July 2024 to prevent avoidable sight loss.
The governor, represented by Health Commissioner Prof. Enoch Uche, highlighted the state’s efforts to improve eye health services.
He said the government was upgrading eye care facilities and providing free screening services.
According to him, the administration is also working to ensure that facilities for glaucoma screening and treatment are accessible.
In a keynote address, Prof. Bernadine Ekpenyong of the University of Calabar said glaucoma remained the leading cause of irreversible blindness in Nigeria.
Ekpenyong said risk factors included ageing, heredity, diabetes and high blood pressure.
She stressed the need for early detection and regular eye examinations, particularly for people above 40.
The event brought together stakeholders in eye health.
Students received prizes for outstanding glaucoma essays and art.
