Abstract
There is low level of awareness on glaucoma among the public in the region and there is a need for more research.
Raising glaucoma awareness has multiple impacts that ultimately contribute to early detection, management
and avoiding blindness due to the disease. There are various strategies for raising awareness on glaucoma and
the experience in Ethiopia has shown the importance of raising glaucoma awareness in terms of early detection
of disease, compliance to glaucoma management, acceptance of surgery, mobilizing stakeholders, and getting
due attention to glaucoma as a public health problem.
References
Pascolini D, Mariotti SP. Global estimates of
visual impairment: 2010. Br J Ophthalmol. 2012;
:614-618.
Resnikoff S, Pascolini D, Etya’ale D, Kocur I,
Pararajasegaram R, Pokharel GP, et al. Global data
on visual impairment in the year 2002. Bull World
Health Organ. 2004; 82:844-851.
Kyari F, et al. Epidemiology of glaucoma in
Sub-Saharan Africa: Prevalence, Incidence and
Risk Factors. Middle East Afr J Ophthalmol.
;20:111-125.
Quaranta L, Riva I, Gerardi C, et al. Quality of life in
glaucoma: A review of the litrature. Adv Ther. 2016.
,959-981.
Oduntan OA, Mashige KP, Hansraj R, Ovenseri-
Ogbomo G. Strategies for reducing visual impairment
and blindness in rural and remote areas of Africa. Afr
Vision Eye Health. 2015;74(1), Art. #25,
Mbadugha CA, Onakoya AO. The awareness,
perceptions and experiences of primary open angle
glaucoma patients in Lagos Nigeria. Sci. Rep. 2014;
:7585; DOI: 10.1038/srep07585.
Abdull MM, et al. Glaucoma, “the silent thief of
sight”: patients’ perspectives and health seeking
behaviour in Bauchi, northern Nigeria. BMC
Ophthalmol. 2016; 16:44.
Gilmour-White JA, Shah P, Cross V, et al. Glaucoma
awareness and access to healthcare: perceptions
among glaucoma patients in Tanzania. Postgrad
Med J. 2015; 91:373–378.
Gachago MM, Kariuki MM, Marco SA.Knowledge
level on glaucoma among glaucoma patients attending
clinic at Kenyatta National Hospital. 2011 http://
erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/handle/11295/16316.
Isawumi MA, Hassan MB, Akinwusi PO, Adebimpe
OW, Asekun-Olarinmoye EO, et al. Awareness of
and attitude towards glaucoma among an adult rural
population of Osun State, Southwest Nigeria. Middle
East Afr J Ophthalmol. 2014; 21:165-169.
Tenkir et al. Glaucoma awareness among people
attending ophthalmic outreach services in Southwestern
Ethiopia. BMC Ophthalmol. 2010; 10:17.
De-Gaulle and Dako-Gyeke. Glaucoma awareness,
knowledge, perception of risk and eye screening
behavior among residents of Abokobi, Ghana. BMC
Ophthalmol. 2016;16:204.
Degineh H, Giorgis TA. Glaucoma awareness
among ophthalmic patients at Menelik II Hospital,
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Ethiop J Health Dev. 2013;
(3):230-234.
Komolafe OO, Omolase CO, Bekibele CO, Ogunleye
OA, Komolafe OA, Omotayo FO. Awareness and
knowledge of glaucoma among workers in a Nigerian
tertiary health care institution. Middle East Afr J
Ophthalmol. 2013; 20:163-167.
Boadi-Kusi SB, et al. Awareness, knowledge and
self-care practices toward glaucoma among final year
health science university students in Ghana. Clin Exp
Optom. 2015; 98: 160–167.
Osaguona VB, Edema OT. Awareness and knowledge
of glaucoma among hospital workers at the University
of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City. Sahel Med J.
;17:132-135.
Monsudi KF, Saka ES, Ayodapo AO. Health workers
awareness and knowledge of glaucoma in tertiary
hospital in BirninKebbi, Nigeria. Ophthalmol Res.
; 8(2): 1-8.
Giorgis AT. Raising public awareness of glaucoma
in Ethiopia: Case study. Community Eye Health J.
25(79-80):46. PMID: 23520413; PMCID:
PMC3588136.