optometry.naija: Glaucoma Week Series 2011: "Optom Glaucoma is a chronic eye disease syndrome that ultimately destroys the optic nerve head @ the insertions of the lamina cribrosa..."
Optom
optometry is discussed here, eye diseases and disabilities are highlighted and management of such ocular conditions enumerated.
Saturday, 19 March 2011
Glaucoma Week Series 2011
Optom
Glaucoma is a chronic eye disease syndrome that ultimately destroys the optic nerve head @ the insertions of the lamina cribrosa. This eye disease syndrome is presented with the following:
1) Cupping of the optic nerve head.
2) Reduction in the central visual field.
3)Compromised intra-ocular pressure.
4) Progressive retinal vascular ischaemia
5) Retinal ganglion cell fibre apoptosis secondary to the release of glutamate in the area of infaction.
Glaucoma is divided into the primary and secondary types, depending on the disease process. The primary type is often idiopathic, while the secondary type is almost always as a result of an underlying cause like Diabetes, hypertension, Uveitis, smaller than normal angle between the anterior iris and the corneal endothelium etc. The primary type accounts for almost 75-80 % of glaucoma, while the secondary is comparatively rare.
Glaucoma has no cure and the aim of management is to reduce or even stop the progressive excavation of the optic nerve head in the area of the lamina cribrosa. Though intra-ocular pressure compromise is the target of treatment, but research is going on presently on the use of neuro-protectors to reverse and/or stop the process of apoptosis.
Africans and Asians are more commonly affected by primary & secondary glaucoma respectively. Aging increases the chances of developing the disease. Other factors includes positive family history of glaucoma, diabetes, hypertension, cataract, ocular blunt trauma, the use of steroids for a prolonged period of time, myopia especially the progressive type of myopia etc
Glaucoma stills your sight silently in most cases & nothing can be done about that! We therefore ask you to be wary of such. Go for regular eye tests. The Glaucoma series continues tomorrow.
Dr Victor Ezebuiroh.
Glaucoma is a chronic eye disease syndrome that ultimately destroys the optic nerve head @ the insertions of the lamina cribrosa. This eye disease syndrome is presented with the following:
1) Cupping of the optic nerve head.
2) Reduction in the central visual field.
3)Compromised intra-ocular pressure.
4) Progressive retinal vascular ischaemia
5) Retinal ganglion cell fibre apoptosis secondary to the release of glutamate in the area of infaction.
Glaucoma is divided into the primary and secondary types, depending on the disease process. The primary type is often idiopathic, while the secondary type is almost always as a result of an underlying cause like Diabetes, hypertension, Uveitis, smaller than normal angle between the anterior iris and the corneal endothelium etc. The primary type accounts for almost 75-80 % of glaucoma, while the secondary is comparatively rare.
Glaucoma has no cure and the aim of management is to reduce or even stop the progressive excavation of the optic nerve head in the area of the lamina cribrosa. Though intra-ocular pressure compromise is the target of treatment, but research is going on presently on the use of neuro-protectors to reverse and/or stop the process of apoptosis.
Africans and Asians are more commonly affected by primary & secondary glaucoma respectively. Aging increases the chances of developing the disease. Other factors includes positive family history of glaucoma, diabetes, hypertension, cataract, ocular blunt trauma, the use of steroids for a prolonged period of time, myopia especially the progressive type of myopia etc
Glaucoma stills your sight silently in most cases & nothing can be done about that! We therefore ask you to be wary of such. Go for regular eye tests. The Glaucoma series continues tomorrow.
Dr Victor Ezebuiroh.
Friday, 18 March 2011
optometry.naija: Naija Optometry and their place in public health s...
optometry.naija: Naija Optometry and their place in public health s...: "Optom Optometry is comparatively new in this country Naija. Before 1987, most Optometrists were B.Sc holders in Optometry (The English versi..."
Optom
Optom
Naija Optometry and their place in public health sector
Optom
Optometry is comparatively new in this country Naija. Before 1987, most Optometrists were B.Sc holders in Optometry (The English version of Optometry). We could not integrate or be integrated into the main stream health sector- have you noticed that in most military recruitments, Optometric qualifications are not indicated!
Does it baffle you? It's the fact.
In 1987 when the new Doctors of Optometry (O.D.) were inducted from Abia state University, a mere state university for that matter, the B.Sc graduates and undergraduates from UniBen, A federal University, were put under pressure to upgrade their certificates in ABSU to O.D.; a move that did not go down well with our UniBen counterpart, subsequently those that could afford to go to USA or Canada, where OD is awarded, left! The rest either countinued with their B.Sc Optometry till date practising & our catatonic regulatory body is not expected to bat an eyelid.
When the ODs both locally gotten or got from a foriegn universities were busy garbing themselves with their new found title they let their position to eye health slip. @ the moment, most Ophthalmic nurses would challenge an Optometrist in a public health facility! why? Because most Optometrists are not employed by the ministry of health, despite what the real sector stands to gain by such inclusion. Our Regulatory body is a toothless bulldog & a lazy one for that matter; second, our internal squabble between ABSU, IMSU or UNIBEN product dwarfed our relevance then finally no plan for Optometric department of a hospital. You might want to argue that an Optometric unit is located in the department of Ophthalmology in 'big' hospitals; what we actually have there is an Optical workshop than an Optometric Department!
Consequently, the Public health sector cannot boast to have a control of ocular related disabilities. The very many poor surgical outcomes in many government hospitals could be traced to the near absence of Optometrists in this sector. Other challenges faced in the Ophthalmology departments due to the under utilization of Optometrists includes bad refraction, poor procedural approach to eye care, poor rehabilitative eye care, poor ocular post-surgical care & outcome etc
The sustainability of eye care is a function of the Optometrist all over the world. The emphasis of the government on health care reform should not live eye care behind. For an eye care management to be effective, the place of the Optometrist both in the private & public health sectors should be the top priority. We are hence urging the ministry of health all over the federation to make practising Optometry in government hospitals a must. Let departments of Optometry in the hospitals be upgraded to challenge the overwheming cases of eye diseases or disabilities! Please we cant afford to wait anylonger.
Dr Ezebuiroh Victor.
Optometry is comparatively new in this country Naija. Before 1987, most Optometrists were B.Sc holders in Optometry (The English version of Optometry). We could not integrate or be integrated into the main stream health sector- have you noticed that in most military recruitments, Optometric qualifications are not indicated!
Does it baffle you? It's the fact.
In 1987 when the new Doctors of Optometry (O.D.) were inducted from Abia state University, a mere state university for that matter, the B.Sc graduates and undergraduates from UniBen, A federal University, were put under pressure to upgrade their certificates in ABSU to O.D.; a move that did not go down well with our UniBen counterpart, subsequently those that could afford to go to USA or Canada, where OD is awarded, left! The rest either countinued with their B.Sc Optometry till date practising & our catatonic regulatory body is not expected to bat an eyelid.
When the ODs both locally gotten or got from a foriegn universities were busy garbing themselves with their new found title they let their position to eye health slip. @ the moment, most Ophthalmic nurses would challenge an Optometrist in a public health facility! why? Because most Optometrists are not employed by the ministry of health, despite what the real sector stands to gain by such inclusion. Our Regulatory body is a toothless bulldog & a lazy one for that matter; second, our internal squabble between ABSU, IMSU or UNIBEN product dwarfed our relevance then finally no plan for Optometric department of a hospital. You might want to argue that an Optometric unit is located in the department of Ophthalmology in 'big' hospitals; what we actually have there is an Optical workshop than an Optometric Department!
Consequently, the Public health sector cannot boast to have a control of ocular related disabilities. The very many poor surgical outcomes in many government hospitals could be traced to the near absence of Optometrists in this sector. Other challenges faced in the Ophthalmology departments due to the under utilization of Optometrists includes bad refraction, poor procedural approach to eye care, poor rehabilitative eye care, poor ocular post-surgical care & outcome etc
The sustainability of eye care is a function of the Optometrist all over the world. The emphasis of the government on health care reform should not live eye care behind. For an eye care management to be effective, the place of the Optometrist both in the private & public health sectors should be the top priority. We are hence urging the ministry of health all over the federation to make practising Optometry in government hospitals a must. Let departments of Optometry in the hospitals be upgraded to challenge the overwheming cases of eye diseases or disabilities! Please we cant afford to wait anylonger.
Dr Ezebuiroh Victor.
Wednesday, 16 March 2011
Practising Optometry in Naija
Optom
In 1981 the American version of Optometry was introduced in A.B.S.U & the first set OD (Doctor of Optometry) was inducted in 1987, since then the scope of practice entered on the fast drive. From lens prescription & glazing, to the dispensing of topical agents, then to the long term co-management of such chronic diseases with ocular co-morbidity like Diabetes, Hypertension, Rheumatoid Arthritis etc; finally today some Optometrists are venturing into minor ocular surgeries!
Eye care management is a complex and expensive procedure...but blindness is more expensive! Governments worldwide, often subsidizes the expensiveness of eye care management which the long run effect is the massive reduction in blindness and improved activities of daily living. It is not so in Naija.
Eye care is not a government priority in Naija. The trail blazing success in Optometry, which gives more than 75% of eye care services in this country, are mostly the private sector initiatives. More than 80% of Optometric practices in Naija are owned by private individuals. In southern Naija alone, 90% of Optometric clinics are run by individuals.
Government hospitals that run a well equiped Optometric eye centres can only be found in Abuja, Lagos and maybe in Portharcourt and Enugu etc. The reason is partly on the government's insensitivity to the health sector, partly the squabble between the very few Ophthalmologists practising in this country and optometrists practising locally; partly to the almost precarious regulatory board of ours - NOA & ODOBN (Nigerian Optometrist Association & Optometrists and Dispensing Optician Board of Nigeria).
Despite these odds, private practises especially in the rural & semi-rural areas, had to rely on obsolete equipments like the schiotz Tonometers etc in managing cases in those areas. The lack of credit facilities to site such Optometric centres in those areas are almost non available except from private donations or loans that attract 30% to 40% interest rates. In such circumstance, the cost of providing services to these rural and semi-rual areas comes with a high tag which these superstitious people could hardly affort. Inshort, pracising Optometry in the rural areas or semi-rural areas in Naija is an uphill task...in those areas, avoidable causes of blindness is winning!
Vision 2020 initiatives which were planned with the rurals & semi-rurals had been highjacked for personal aggrandizement. The cost of standard eye equipments are very prohibitive and there is a huge interllectual drain in this field to other countries where praticising Optometry is rewarding. This has allowed the untrained Opticians to take over especially in the south and by the horrible Ophthalmic nurses in the north of Naija.
More rural dwellers and semi-rural individuals are fast lossing the battle to avoidable causes of blindness, while Vision 2020 is less than 9 years from today! Is Vision 2020 a mirage or a reality?
Optometry has a role to play here as usual, we are asking all the factors contributing to this disgaceful loss in the battle for 'right to sight'. We have a stake here, yes, in restoring sight to the blind!
Dr Victor Ezebuiroh.
In 1981 the American version of Optometry was introduced in A.B.S.U & the first set OD (Doctor of Optometry) was inducted in 1987, since then the scope of practice entered on the fast drive. From lens prescription & glazing, to the dispensing of topical agents, then to the long term co-management of such chronic diseases with ocular co-morbidity like Diabetes, Hypertension, Rheumatoid Arthritis etc; finally today some Optometrists are venturing into minor ocular surgeries!
Eye care management is a complex and expensive procedure...but blindness is more expensive! Governments worldwide, often subsidizes the expensiveness of eye care management which the long run effect is the massive reduction in blindness and improved activities of daily living. It is not so in Naija.
Eye care is not a government priority in Naija. The trail blazing success in Optometry, which gives more than 75% of eye care services in this country, are mostly the private sector initiatives. More than 80% of Optometric practices in Naija are owned by private individuals. In southern Naija alone, 90% of Optometric clinics are run by individuals.
Government hospitals that run a well equiped Optometric eye centres can only be found in Abuja, Lagos and maybe in Portharcourt and Enugu etc. The reason is partly on the government's insensitivity to the health sector, partly the squabble between the very few Ophthalmologists practising in this country and optometrists practising locally; partly to the almost precarious regulatory board of ours - NOA & ODOBN (Nigerian Optometrist Association & Optometrists and Dispensing Optician Board of Nigeria).
Despite these odds, private practises especially in the rural & semi-rural areas, had to rely on obsolete equipments like the schiotz Tonometers etc in managing cases in those areas. The lack of credit facilities to site such Optometric centres in those areas are almost non available except from private donations or loans that attract 30% to 40% interest rates. In such circumstance, the cost of providing services to these rural and semi-rual areas comes with a high tag which these superstitious people could hardly affort. Inshort, pracising Optometry in the rural areas or semi-rural areas in Naija is an uphill task...in those areas, avoidable causes of blindness is winning!
Vision 2020 initiatives which were planned with the rurals & semi-rurals had been highjacked for personal aggrandizement. The cost of standard eye equipments are very prohibitive and there is a huge interllectual drain in this field to other countries where praticising Optometry is rewarding. This has allowed the untrained Opticians to take over especially in the south and by the horrible Ophthalmic nurses in the north of Naija.
More rural dwellers and semi-rural individuals are fast lossing the battle to avoidable causes of blindness, while Vision 2020 is less than 9 years from today! Is Vision 2020 a mirage or a reality?
Optometry has a role to play here as usual, we are asking all the factors contributing to this disgaceful loss in the battle for 'right to sight'. We have a stake here, yes, in restoring sight to the blind!
Dr Victor Ezebuiroh.
Monday, 14 March 2011
Training Optometrists recieve in Nigerian Universities
Optom
The poor representation of Nigeiran Optometrists in the face of globalization and age of internet is an obvious nemesis when it comes to putting down stakes in the affairs of eye care management in this country, Naija.
Most modern equipments are not introduced to the undergraduate Optometrist at all. They are left in the blind & suddenly automated equipments, both the ones we've heard about and some that so many interns & undergraduates have not heard of.
Aside the horrible half-baked preparations to start practising Optometry in our universities, the morale's low due mainly to our toothless-bulldog board. The Optometrist and Dispensing Optician Board of Nigeria (ODOBN) is not very representative, as well as the various schools that train Optometrists!
We call on the appropiate authorities to make necessary concessions & prepare us for Vision 2020!
Dr Ezebuiroh Okwudiri.
The poor representation of Nigeiran Optometrists in the face of globalization and age of internet is an obvious nemesis when it comes to putting down stakes in the affairs of eye care management in this country, Naija.
Most modern equipments are not introduced to the undergraduate Optometrist at all. They are left in the blind & suddenly automated equipments, both the ones we've heard about and some that so many interns & undergraduates have not heard of.
Aside the horrible half-baked preparations to start practising Optometry in our universities, the morale's low due mainly to our toothless-bulldog board. The Optometrist and Dispensing Optician Board of Nigeria (ODOBN) is not very representative, as well as the various schools that train Optometrists!
We call on the appropiate authorities to make necessary concessions & prepare us for Vision 2020!
Dr Ezebuiroh Okwudiri.
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