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“Every Nigerian is at risk of contracting glaucoma”. Professor of Ophthalmology at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos (CMUL) and Honorary Consultant Ophthalmologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Professor Adeola Olukorede Onakoya made this revelation while delivering the 6th Inaugural lecture of the University of Lagos, in the 2023/2024 academic session on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, at the J. F. Ade. Ajayi Auditorium, UNILAG, Akoka.
Delivering her lecture titled: Protecting and Preserving the “Cables”: The Race against Darkness, Prof. Onakoya revealed that the topic was borne out of passion for her subspeciality Glaucoma – a disease that ravages the optic nerve, a cable like structure which connects the eye to the brain.
She revealed that glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in Nigeria and the world, with a prevalence of 16.7%, second to cataract. According to her, it is a public health problem which is the most common cause of irreversible blindness worldwide and in Nigeria.
The Inaugural Lecturer also revealed that the disease is asymptomatic and progressive with sufferers unaware of the disease until it is at an advanced stage when there is irreversible visual loss.
She pointed out the modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for the development of glaucoma, while noting that glaucoma awareness is very poor with only 5% of Nigeria population being aware of the disease.
While emphasising that early detection is possible through regular eye examination at least once every 2 years, or once a year (for those with a family history of glaucoma), Prof. Onakoya affirmed that early detection through individual, community and collaborative efforts with intervention will reduce those who needlessly go blind from glaucoma.
The Inaugural Lecturer mentioned the challenges of glaucoma care and recommended “increasing public awareness, improving access to healthcare, and increasing the number of trained healthcare personnel in Nigeria” as ways to addresses those challenges.
Other insightful recommendations proffered by Prof. Onakoya include regular health education and health promotional activities on glaucoma to encourage screening; innovative screening strategies of at-risk groups; making glaucoma screening an integral part of annual health screening; creation of vision hubs to screen for glaucoma in the community, addition of glaucoma to the list of non-communicable group of diseases; placing the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos at the forefront of development of active ingredients in anti-glaucoma medications; among others.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS, presided over the lecture which was well attended by colleagues, students, former students, mentees, friends and family of the Inaugural Lecturer.
Born on January 7, 1961 in Lagos, Professor Adeola Onakoya obtained her West African School Certificate in 1977, Higher School Certificate in 1979 and MB.,B.S. in 1984.
Before joining the services of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Prof. Onakoya was a Registrar (Ophthalmology) at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) (1987 – 1989); and Senior Registrar (Ophthalmology) (1989 – 1997). She joined the services of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos as Lecturer I (Ophthalmology) in 1996 and rose to become Senior Lecturer in 2006, Associate Professor in 2013 and Professor in 2016.
Prof. Adeola Olukorede Onakoya is married and blessed with children.
Source: UNILAG
