…Dr. Obinna Ofozoba

World Glaucoma Week is a period set aside world over to create awareness and enlighten people on the need for regular eye checks as well as to help eliminate blindness caused by the disease.

The Department of Optometry FUTO, in strict compliance with this global call, organized the Glaucoma Week between Monday, 25^thand Friday 29^th March 2019.

The first day of the week was mapped for public awareness campaign during which the staff and students of Optometry Department dressed in their customized T-shirts marched around the Schools, Departments, Units and Centers of the University distributing handbills and informing the University Community of the free eye screening at the Department.

As envisaged, the awareness campaign was fruitful as a reasonable number of staff and students availed themselves the opportunity to be screened and treated at the Department’s Teaching clinic. A total of five hundred and ninety-one (591) FUTO staff and students were screened and one hundred and twenty-eight (128) who were glaucoma suspects placed on glaucoma medication which will require them to visit the clinic on monthly basis for follow-up management. Two hundred and forty (240) were referred for prescription of glasses, while others who had other pathological problems like ocular infections and allergies were given appropriate medication.

It was indeed a week to remember as students and staff who received one treatment or the other appreciated the Management and the Department for the rare and unique opportunity.