{"id":90710,"date":"2017-04-03T18:47:37","date_gmt":"2017-04-03T16:47:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/countries-like-kenya-are-woefully-behind-the-curve-in-managing-glaucoma-the-conversation\/"},"modified":"2017-04-03T18:47:37","modified_gmt":"2017-04-03T16:47:37","slug":"countries-like-kenya-are-woefully-behind-the-curve-in-managing-glaucoma-the-conversation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/countries-like-kenya-are-woefully-behind-the-curve-in-managing-glaucoma-the-conversation\/","title":{"rendered":"Countries like Kenya are woefully behind the curve in managing glaucoma | The Conversation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Countries like Kenya are woefully behind the curve in managing glaucoma<\/a>: <\/p>\n

Accurate diagnosis of glaucoma requires trained specialists and advanced equipment.<\/span> Shutterstock<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the world. The disease is known as \u2018the sneak thief of vision\u2019 because there are no early warning signs or painful symptoms leading to its diagnosis. The Conversation Africa\u2019s Health and Medicine Editor Joy Wanja Muraya asked Professor Dan Kiage to explain the challenges African countries face in managing the disease.<\/em><\/p>\n

What are the top concerns about treating and managing glaucoma in Africa?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Glaucoma is a slow and silent progressive disease that damages the optic nerve of the eye. If not treated, it can lead to gradual loss of sight where the individual sees blind spots and may eventually go blind. About 4.5 million people are blind due to glaucoma, a number that\u2019s expected to more than double by 2020.<\/p>\n

Glaucoma disproportionately affects Africans. Their higher risk remains unclear though some studies have related it to genetic differences in the anatomic structure of the optic nerve. <\/p>\n

The diagnosis of glaucoma in Africa is really low. One study shows that in rural villages in East Africa only 2% to 3% of the patients with glaucoma had been diagnosed. This is partly due to the fact that sub-Saharan Africa has the lowest ratios of health workers to population anywhere in the world. And patients seek medical treatment quite late.<\/p>\n

Accurate diagnosis of early glaucoma requires well trained ophthalmologists and advanced equipment. But in sub-Saharan Africa the majority of primary and secondary health care centres are run by poorly equipped lower cadres of eye care workers who lack the skills and capacity to accurately diagnose advanced symptomatic stages of glaucoma. <\/p>\n

Glaucoma medicines are also not widely available, and they\u2019re expensive. <\/p>\n

Who is most at risk? Are Africans receiving appropriate glaucoma treatment?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Anybody is at risk, though some people face a higher risk of getting the disease. <\/p>\n

These include people <\/p>\n