Delivered by Wendy C. Phipps Minister of State with Responsibility for Health, Social Services, Community Development & Gender Affairs Sunday, March 6, 2016 ~~~
Fellow Citizens and Residents of St. Kitts & Nevis:
Today, St. Kitts and Nevis joins the rest of the international community in launching World Glaucoma Week from March 6-13, 2016. The global sensitization programme is being staged under the theme: “Prevent Glaucoma, 2016”.
World Glaucoma Week is the brainchild of the World Glaucoma Association (WGA) and the World Glaucoma Patient Association (WGPA), and was started in March 2010 in an effort to achieve global awareness of glaucoma as the “Silent Thief of Sight”. This campaign objective is achieved via the organisation of a host of sensitization programmes and projects involving key stakeholders such as eye care specialists, universities, hospitals, clinics, glaucoma patient groups, governments and donor agencies.
Glaucoma is defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a group of diseases of the eye that causes progressive damage to the major nerve of vision in the body, called the Optic Nerve – which is directly linked to the brain: the Optic Nerve receives light from the retina of the eye and transmits these light impulses to the brain. The brain, in turn, perceives these impulses as vision. The WHO confirms that while there are several types of glaucoma, the two most common are (1) primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), the onset of which is slow and insidious; and (2) angle closure glaucoma (ACG), which is more acute but less common. Essentially, glaucoma results in the progressive loss of side vision, referred to as peripheral vision. Left untreated, central vision loss can develop, followed by eventual blindness.
The growing reference of glaucoma as the “Silent Thief of Sight” is due to the fact that the condition can occur gradually over a long time without detection. In many cases, symptoms only manifest when the disease is far advanced. Vision loss due to glaucoma cannot be reversed. As such, any treatment rendered thereafter is meant to prevent further loss. Early detection is therefore advocated, via regular or annual vision checks.
Glaucoma is deemed to be the 2nd most common cause of blindness in the world; the most common cause is cataracts. It is estimated that as many as 6 million persons in the world are blind as a result of glaucoma (accounting for just over 12% of all global blindness). It is expected that this number will rise to 11.2 million persons by the year 2020. In spite of our small population size, St. Kitts and Nevis has some sobering statistics as it relates to glaucoma: in 2015, there were in total 1,113 persons registered at the Eye Clinic of the JN France General Hospital. These patients are strongly urged to visit the ophthalmologist at least twice per year. For patients whose glaucoma is diagnosed early enough, it is possible to arrest the development of the disease or slow down such progression by surgical intervention, or by non-invasive measures such as the use of drops.
It is commonly assumed that glaucoma is associated with elevated pressure in the eye. However, glaucoma can also develop with normal eye pressures.
To be precise, there are several risk factors for glaucoma, including the following:
- Family History of Glaucoma
- Being over 45 Years of Age
- Having Diabetes and Hypertension
- Having a Pre-existing Eye Injury
- Complications Following Certain Surgical Interventions
Due to the strong correlation between the onset of glaucoma and a family history of the disease, the World Glaucoma Week Committee has concentrated much of its sensitization and advocacy efforts on First Degree Relatives (FDRs) – for the simple reason that while anyone can have a 2.3% lifetime risk of glaucoma, those with a FDR have that risk multiplied 10 times. As such, it is imperative for First Degree Relatives to be made keenly aware - by the medical establishment of: (a) the need for glaucoma Optic Nerve testing; and (b) the imperative of making their families aware of their heightened risk for glaucoma. The need for glaucoma awareness and education of our people is therefore critical, given that too many people are unaware that they have the disease, due to the low detection rates globally.
The staff at the Eye Clinic of the JN France General Hospital has planned a series of activities in an effort to celebrate World Glaucoma Week, and World Glaucoma Day – which is being celebrated on March 12th.
The calendar of events includes the following:
Monday, March 7th - Home visits to clients with glaucoma, starting at 9:00 a.m. & Sponsored Health Walk at 4:30 pm, from the Fire Station in New Town, to Frigate Bay. (Participants should be wearing green tops.)
Tuesday, March 8th - Visit to the Cardin Home with follow-up glaucoma assessments for the residents
Wednesday, March 9th - Continuing Medical Education on the topic “Glaucoma in the 21st Century” presented by Dr Samuel Nisbett, & Eye Clinic’s Staff Dinner at The Poinciana Restaurant in Frigate Bay, starting at 7:00 pm
Sunday, March 13th - Church Service at the Cayon Church of God, starting at 8:30 am
The Federal Ministries of Health encourage all citizens and residents of St. Kitts and Nevis to support, wherever possible, the activities of the staff of the JN France General Hospital’s Eye Clinic in their educational and promotional efforts to increase awareness of glaucoma, its dangers, and the proactive steps needed to protect general eye health. We are told that “the eyes are the windows to the soul”. As such, the preservation of vision is of paramount importance in enhancing our general quality of life and well-being, our employment potential, and our safety and security, among other matters. The Ministries of Health also urge everyone to get their vision tested regularly, in order to maximize the likelihood of preserving one’s eyesight for as long as possible.
On behalf of the Federal Government of St. Kitts and Nevis I extend best wishes to the local organising committee of World Glaucoma Week 2016 activities. I also pledge Government’s full support for the scheduled projects and programmes. It is therefore with pleasure that I declare World Glaucoma Week 2016 officially open.
Thank you for your attention.
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