Glaucoma alert Ghana: a Robert & Sons godsend, and my Copenhagen story

People in Accra especially, who may unknowingly be at risk of going blind from the glaucoma eye disease that can lead to blindness, are being given a godsend opportunity to have a free eye test by Ghana’s renowned eye care specialists Robert & Sons, on Monday March 24, 2025.

As announced in a short message on my phone on March 19: “Glaucoma steals sight silently! Get a FREE Glaucoma screening at our Adabraka branch on 24^th March, 9 a.m. – 3.30 p.m. T & Cs apply.”

The offer could be a sightsaver, or even a lifesaver, for those who respond, because it appears that this year the free glaucoma eye screening/testing in March by health facilities nationwide is neither well supported nor widespread, as in previous years.

As a reference source explains, “glaucoma, a chronic eye disease, is primarily caused by damage to the optic nerve, often due to elevated eye pressure, which can result from fluid buildup or impaired drainage within the eye.” It also runs in families.

The disease is said to be the leading cause of preventable blindness in the world and, shockingly, Ghana is among the world glaucoma league leaders, with an estimated 700,000 patients living with glaucoma and over 60,000 already blind from the condition.

Glaucoma Week is marked worldwide in March and the 2025 observance, March 9 – 15, was under the theme, 'Uniting for a Glaucoma-Free World'.

“World Glaucoma Week is a global initiative of the World Glaucoma Association in order to raise awareness (about) glaucoma …The goal is to alert everyone to have regular eye (and optic nerve) checks in order to detect glaucoma as early as possible.” In Ghana free eye screening is part of the observance. Glaucoma afflicts without warning, therefore, eye testing is critical.

Conceivably, the trauma of sudden blindness has terrible consequences not only for the victim, but for the whole family as well; despair at the very least; even suicidal thoughts.

Thus, the lack of funding support for glaucoma prevention is a matter of deep concern for Harrison Abutiate, the President and other members of the Glaucoma Patients Association of Ghana (GpAG).

Mr. Abutiate, is also Vice-President of the World Glaucoma Patients Association. Earlier this week, he told me that although this year the GpAG is observing its 15^th anniversary, owing to their funding problem, the association could not celebrate this milestone properly.

“If there were funds, we would have held an Awards Night to honour or recognise those who have contributed all these years to support the awareness creation. We would also have used the occasion to appeal for funds to support our activities.”

In the past, I have written about the need to even make Glaucoma screening part of the activities of ‘Ghana Month’ marked in March, our Independence month.

Why can’t March be declared officially ‘Glaucoma Awareness Month’? Obviously, the numbers of the blind affect the national well-being and healthcare burden. And virtually anybody can become a victim.

The group was founded in 1990 initially as the Glaucoma Association of Ghana, by Lawyer Barton Kwaku Glymin snr who had become blind from glaucoma. After his death, Mr. Abutiate, a pharmacist, succeeded him as President. In 2010, the group’s name was changed to the Glaucoma Patients Association of Ghana, “to reflect the true membership.”

As a community pharmacist, he was disturbed by the rising numbers who came to his pharmacy to buy glaucoma drugs. He saw the gravity of the problem, hence developing interest in eye conditions “to the extent that I’m the current Vice of the World Glaucoma Patients Association.”

Among other objectives, the GpAG aims to create awareness about glaucoma, support those living with it to get treatment, advocate for reduction, and the abolition, of taxes on glaucoma drugs.

Glaucoma is all the more frightening because, as indicated, it steals sight without pain or other warning. Therefore, eye screening or testing is crucial so that treatment can begin promptly after diagnosis.

Alarmingly, myriads of Ghanaians may have glaucoma but they don’t know it! Without getting their eyes tested, it may be too late by the time they find out they have it!

This year, in partnership with other stakeholders, the main free eye screening took place at the International Central Gospel Church Restoration Temple, Accra. Of the 130 whose eyes were tested, 12 were found to have glaucoma and three “were suspects”. Results from other screenings in Accra are now being collated.

Having personal experience of the stealthy nature of the condition, I can well appreciate advice about the vital role of eye testing.

In my case, had it not been for sheer luck I shudder to think what would have happened to me. This is why I feel that every year I need to tell my ‘Copenhagen story’, to testify that indeed glaucoma develops without warning.

My good fortune was that in 1980, while based in Paris, France, where I was reporting for a magazine, I had been on an assignment in Copenhagen, in Denmark, when I happened to see an unusual notice in a shop window.

Earlier that morning, not wanting to risk being late for an interview appointment in the Danish capital, I had set off early from my hotel. However, on arrival at the address, I realised that I was too early, because the office was closer to my hotel than I had thought.

It was as I was walking about to keep warm, and at the same time window-shopping to while away the time, that I saw in an optician’s shop window a sign in English “Come in for a free eye test!”

Could it be true? Curious, I went in to find out, thinking I might get information for an article. Soon I found myself seated in front of a very friendly optician. Fortunately for me, she spoke English and also assured me that the test was truly gratis.

But after the test, looking somewhat worried, she told me that there was “a problem” and so I should have my eyes checked again on my return to France.

Back in Paris, another test in a specialist hospital confirmed what she had told me; there was indeed a disturbing development: I had glaucoma. Treatment with eye drops started immediately; and continues to this day!

Notably, previously I had not felt any pain to alert me that my eyesight was under serious threat. This is why glaucoma is described as the “silent thief of sight”.

I remain eternally grateful to the optician in Copenhagen and her company for their free eye testing service. Without the screening at that time, it could so easily have been a different, tragic story for me.

I sometimes wonder: what if I had not been in Europe at that time? What if I had not been too early for my appointment? What if I had not seen the notice in the shop window? And what if that notice had been in Danish, not English?

People owe it to themselves to get their eyes tested, and thus need to make use of the now annual free eye testing opportunities, usually available in many health facilities all over Ghana during Glaucoma Week.

However, I think that the Health Ministry should make free eye screening available more than just once a year. Another area of support the Government could consider is to reduce the taxes on glaucoma medication to lower the prices, because they are extremely expensive. Moreover, once diagnosed treatment is lifelong; one has to keep buying the prescribed medication.

On my part, if by telling my Copenhagen story yet again I can get even one person to go for an eye test before it is too late for them, it would have been well worth the risk of boring those who may already have come across my Copenhagen story elsewhere.

But even without taking advantage of free eye testing, I believe that people should count it as an essential duty to themselves to have their eyes screened so that if the dreaded disease threatens, action can be taken immediately to prevent blindness; incurable blindness. Affording the modest fee to have one’s eyes tested needs to be seen as essential.

Furthermore, for the truly needy, I suggest that the charge could be absorbed by the National Health Insurance Scheme.

Reader, given the importance of the eye screening, after reading this, please go for an eye test; and encourage others, too, to do so.

And this heartfelt plea from a longtime patient is the reason for the annual recounting of my Copenhagen story.