Curtains dropped on Saturday March 28 on the Glaucoma week organised by the Douala General Hospital . The week-long program that began on Tuesday March 24 continued through Saturday March 28, featuring, community education and hospital-based outreach, on-site patient screening and counseling, and health education sessions for the public.During one of the on-site screening at the hospital on Thursday March 26 , the public was advised to take part in free eye screenings designed to detect glaucoma early before it causes irreversible vision loss.
During the screenings, patients underwent a check of their visual acuity (vision measurement) and intraocular pressure(eye pressure). If results raise concern, additional steps were be taken, including a more detailed examination after pupil dilation to evaluate the back of the eye for signs consistent with glaucoma.After evaluation, patients receive guidance on next steps, including whether follow-up care or treatment is needed.According Dr. Njoh Litumbe ophthalmologist at the Douala General Hospital, glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness, warning that many people may have the condition without noticing symptoms He added that glaucoma slowly and permanently damages the optic nerve the “cable” that carries visual information from the eye to the brain. While elevated eye pressure is one known risk factor. One of the key messages from the event is that glaucoma can be present even when a person feels fine. They emphasized that the condition is often discovered during basic examinations, particularly for adults aged 30 and above, and especially among people of African ancestry, who are considered at higher risk.Dr Njoh Litumbe said screening is designed for anyone, whether or not they have symptoms, because early detection is critical. The earlier treatment begins, he said, the better the chances of controlling disease progression and protecting sight.He urged individuals with a family history of glaucoma such as a parent, grandparent, or other close relative to get checked even if they feel healthy. “This disease can run in families,” he stressed, encouraging people to confirm early rather than wait for symptoms.
Visionary Reports 
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