Glaucoma, a silent thief of sight: Implication for social work intervention in the prevention of blindness in Nigeria.
Keywords:
Glaucoma, Social work intervention, Eye care access, Community outreach, Blindness preventionAbstract
Glaucoma, often called the "silent thief of sight," is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, particularly in Nigeria, where its prevalence among adults over 40 is approximately 5.02%. The disease is insidious, progressing without noticeable symptoms until significant vision loss occurs. This poses a critical social challenge, as many individuals remain undiagnosed and untreated, with only about 10% receiving appropriate care. In Nigeria, the implications for social work intervention are profound. Social workers can play a pivotal role in increasing awareness and understanding of glaucoma through targeted community outreach programs. By educating high-risk populations about the importance of regular eye examinations, social workers can facilitate early detection and intervention. Additionally, social workers can collaborate with eye care providers to improve access to eye care services, particularly in underserved areas. They can advocate for the integration of glaucoma screening into primary healthcare, ensuring that preventative measures are accessible to all. Support and counseling for diagnosed individuals are also essential, as social workers can help patients navigate their treatment options and adhere to prescribed care plans. Furthermore, by engaging with policymakers, social workers can address systemic barriers to eye care access, such as cost and availability. By harnessing their skills and resources, social workers can significantly contribute to the prevention of blindness from glaucoma in Nigeria, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for individuals at risk and fostering healthier communities.Downloads
References
1. Awad K., Awad R., Elkazaz H., et al. (2022). Applying the Health Belief Model to Predict Preference for Surgical Intervention Versus Medical Therapy Among Patients with Open-Angle Glaucoma. BMJ Open Ophthalmology, 7, e001113. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjophth-2022-001113
2. Bastawrous A., Burgess P.I., Mahdi A.M., Kyari F., Burton M.J., & Kuper H. (2014). Posterior Segment Eye Disease in Sub-Saharan Africa: Review of Recent Population-Based Studies. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 19(5), 600-609
3. Dotan G., Truong B., Snitzer M., McCauley C., Martinez Helfman S., & Santa Maria K. (2015). Outcomes of an Inner-City Vision Outreach Program: Give Kids Sight Day. JAMA Ophthalmology, 133(5), 527-532
4. Du Toit R. (2015). How to Do a Person-Centered Eye Health Consultation. Community Eye Health, 28(90), 36
5. Duke R., Akinye A., & Ameh S. (2016). Presenting Visual Acuity and Ocular Comorbidity in Patients with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma in a Private Tertiary Eye Center in Nigeria. Journal of Current Glaucoma Practice, 7(1), 6-10. https://doi.org/10.5005/jp-journals-10008-1129
6. Fatima K., Bola A., Mohammed A., Sadiq M.A., & Farouk G. (2018). The Current Status of Glaucoma and Glaucoma Care in Sub-Saharan Africa. Asia-Pacific Journal of Ophthalmology, 7(6)
7. Fudemberg S.J., Amarasekera D.C., Silverstein M.H., Linder K.M., Heffner P.M., Hark L.A., & Waisbourd M. (2016). Overcoming Barriers to Eye Care: Patient Response to a Medical Social Worker in a Glaucoma Service. Journal of Community Health, 41(4), 845-849
8. Goh Y.W., Fenwick E.K., Cheung C.Y., Lamoureux E.L., & Sabanayagam C. (2018). Glaucoma Australia Educational Impact Study: A Randomized Short-Term Clinical Trial Evaluating the Association Between Glaucoma Education and Patient Knowledge, Anxiety, and Treatment Satisfaction. Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology, 46(3), 222-231
9. Hark L.A., Madhava M., Radakrishnan A., Anderson-Quiñones C., Robinson D., Adeghate J., Silva S., Zhan T., Adepoju T., Dave Y., & Fudemberg S.J. (2019). Impact of a Social Worker in a Glaucoma Eye Care Service: A Prospective Study. Health & Social Work, 44(1), 48-56. https://doi.org/10.1093/hsw/hly038
10. Ikpeme B. (2016). The Role of Social Worker in Ophthalmology Department, UCTH, Calabar. (Unpublished Manuscript)
11. Ikpeme B.B., Ede V.I., & Ikpeme B.B. (2024). Impact of a Social Worker in a Glaucoma Eye Care Service. Journal of Ophthalmology, 2(1), 15-23
12. Klauke S., Sondocie C., & Fine I. (2023). The Impact of Low Vision on Social Function: The Potential Importance of Lost Visual Social Cues. Journal of Optometry, 16(1), 3-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optom.2022.03.003
13. Kumar S., Ichhpujani P., Singh R., Thakur S., Sharma M., & Nagpal N. (2018). The Impact of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma: Quality of Life in Indian Patients. Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, 66(3), 416-419
14. Kyari F., Abdull M.M., Sallo F.B., Spry P.G., Wormald R., Peto T., et al. (2015). Nigeria Normative Data for Defining Glaucoma in Prevalence Surveys. Ophthalmic Epidemiology, 22, 98-108
15. Kyari F., Entekume G., Rabiu M., Spry P., Wormald R., Nolan W., et al. (2015). A Population-Based Survey of the Prevalence and Types of Glaucoma in Nigeria: Results from the Nigeria National Blindness and Visual Impairment Survey. BMC Ophthalmology, 15, 176. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12886-015-0160-6
16. Kyari F., Philippin H., Shah P., & Faal H. (2016). Counselling in a Glaucoma Care Service. Community Eye Health, 29(95), 51-53
17. Kyari F., Wormald R., Murthy G.V., et al. (2016). Ethnicity and Deprivation Are Associated with Blindness Among Adults with Primary Glaucoma in Nigeria: Results from the Nigeria National Blindness and Visual Impairment Survey. Journal of Glaucoma, 25, e861-e872
18. Leiby B.E., Hegarty S.E., Zhan T., Myers J.S., Katz L.J., Haller J.A., et al. (2021). A Randomized Trial to Improve Adherence to Follow-Up Eye Examinations Among People with Glaucoma. Preventing Chronic Disease, 18, 200567. https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd18.200567
19. Lundeen E.A., Saydah S., Ehrlich J.R., & Saaddine J. (2021). Self-Reported Vision Impairment and Psychological Distress in U.S. Adults. Ophthalmic Epidemiology, 29(2), 171-181. https://doi.org/10.1080/09286586.2021.1918177
20. Newman-Casey P.A., Musser J.A., Niziol L.M., Heisler M.M., Kamat S.S., Shah M.M., Patel N., & Cohn A.M. (2019). Integrating Patient Education into the Glaucoma Clinical Encounter: A Lean Analysis. Journal of Glaucoma, 28(5), 415-422. https://doi.org/10.1097/IJG.0000000000001192
21. Odberg T., Jakobsen J.E., Hultgren S.J., & Halseide R. (2001). The Impact of Glaucoma on the Quality of Life of Patients in Norway: Results from a Self-Administered Questionnaire. Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica, 79(2), 116-120
22. Oermann M.H. (2003). Effects of Educational Intervention in Waiting Room on Patient Satisfaction. Journal of Ambulatory Care Management, 26, 150-158
23. Oermann M.H., Needham C.A., Dobal M.T., Sinishtaj L., & Lange M.P. (2001). Filling the Waiting Time in the Clinic with Education About Glaucoma. Insight, 26, 77-80
24. Olawoye O., Fawole O.I., Teng C.C., et al. (2013). Evaluation of Community Eye Outreach Programs for Early Glaucoma Detection in Nigeria. Clinical Ophthalmology, 7, 1753-1759
25. Onwubiko S.N., Nwachukwu N.Z., Muomah R.C., Okoloagu N.M., Ngwegu O.M., & Nwachukwu D.C. (2020). Factors Associated with Depression and Anxiety Among Glaucoma Patients in a Tertiary Hospital South-East Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice, 23, 315-321
26. Pizzi L.T., Snitzer M., Amos T., Prioli K.M., Steele D., & Levin A.V. (2015). Cost and Effectiveness of an Eye Care Adherence Program for Philadelphia Children with Significant Visual Impairment. Population Health Management, 18(3), 223-231
27. Rao H.L., Addepalli U.K., Jonnadula G.B., Kumbar T., Senthil S., & Garudadri C.S. (2013). Relationship Between Intraocular Pressure and Rate of Visual Field Progression in Treated Glaucoma. Journal of Glaucoma, 22(9), 719-724. https://doi.org/10.1097/IJG.0b013e318259b0c2
28. Rees G., Ponczek E., Hassell J., Keeffe J.E., & Lamoureux E.L. (2014). Persons with Glaucoma and Their Caregivers: Beliefs About Glaucoma and Its Treatment. Patient Education and Counseling, 96(2), 240-246
29. Sabel B.A., Wang J., Cárdenas-Morales L., Faiq M., & Heim C. (2018). Mental Stress as Consequence and Cause of Vision Loss: The Dawn of Psychosomatic Ophthalmology for Preventive and Personalized Medicine. EPMA Journal, 9(2), 133-160. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13167-018-0136-8
30. Tham Y.-C., Li X., Wong T.Y., Quigley H.A., Aung T., & Cheng C.-Y. (2014). Global Prevalence of Glaucoma and Projections of Glaucoma Burden Through 2040. Ophthalmology, 121(11), 2081-2090
31. The Impact of Low Vision on Social Function: The Potential Importance... Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9811370/
32. The Social Impact of Visual Impairments. RCMG Blog. Retrieved from https://www.retinalmd.com/blog/the-social-impact-of-visual-impairments-strategies-for-maintaining-a-healthy-social-life
33. Ubochi C.C., Achigbu E.O., Nkwogu F.U., Onyia O.E., & Okeke C.J. (2020). The Impact of Glaucoma on the Mental Health of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma Patients Attending a Teaching Hospital in South East Nigeria. Journal of the West African College of Surgeons, 10(2), 17-22. https://doi.org/10.4103/jwas.jwas_59_21
34. Ushie M.A. & Jonah S.E. (2022). Basics in Social Work: Theories and Applied
35. Weinreb R.N., Aung T., & Meideiros F.A. (2014). The Pathophysiology and Treatment of Glaucoma: A Review. JAMA, 311, 1901-1911
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
