Experts raise concerns as glaucoma cases surge in Plateau 

Medical experts in Plateau State have raised serious concerns over the rate at which glaucoma is spreading in the state, with over 4,000 cases recorded in the last year.

According to Prof. Alice Ramyil, an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at Jos University Teaching Hospital, JUTH, the increasing number of patients suffering from glaucoma in the state has become worrisome especially as many residents bluntly refuse to seek early medical attention or undergo regular eye examinations to prevent avoidable blindness.

Ramyil raised the alarm while speaking on Monday at a seminar in Jos as part of activities marking the World Glaucoma Week, with the theme, ‘Uniting for a Glaucoma-Free World’.

She warned that many patients only discover they have glaucoma when significant vision loss has already occurred.

The ophthalmologist noted that more than 4,000 glaucoma patients were already receiving treatment in the state in 2025, with hundreds of new cases being detected annually.

She stated that glaucoma remains one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness worldwide and often develops silently without noticeable symptoms in its early stages, warning that many patients only discover they have glaucoma when significant vision loss has already occurred.

Breaking down the different stages of glaucoma, Ramyil said they include open-angle glaucoma, which develops gradually, and angle-closure glaucoma, which can occur suddenly and requires urgent medical attention.

However, Ramyil offered a ray of hope, explaining that early detection and treatment are the only way to prevent total blindness from glaucoma.

“Symptoms may be difficult to notice. However, in advanced stages, patients may experience loss of peripheral vision, blurred vision, eye pain, and halos around lights,” she said.

“Increased pressure inside the eye, medically known as intraocular pressure, is the most common modifiable risk factor linked to glaucoma,” she explained, adding that if not properly managed, the pressure gradually damages the optic nerve and leads to permanent vision loss.

Experts raise concerns as glaucoma cases surge in Plateau