How much is glaucoma surgery in Nigeria? (Check the cost in here)
Glaucoma has been described as “the silent thief of sight” and according to a 2015 survey, about 1.1 to 1.4 million adults in Nigeria have glaucoma, most of whom are not aware that they have the disease. One in every 20 Nigerians aged 40 years and above has glaucoma, and one in five being blind.
With this scary glaucoma statistics in Nigeria, it is very clear that glaucoma and its attendant complication – blindness is best prevented and promptly treated. The treatment of glaucoma is my main purpose of writing this article. Even though medical management has proven very useful, surgery may become the mainstay in some cases just to savage the eye sight.
The only proven treatment for glaucoma involves lowering eye pressure in order to prevent or to slow down the damage to the optic nerve. This can be done with drugs or through surgery as stated earlier.
I am going to dwell on mainly glaucoma surgery, where it can be done, which doctor is certified to perform glaucoma surgery, the types of glaucoma surgery, its possible complications and its cost in Nigeria.
Procedures
Glaucoma surgeries include the delicate, microscopic incisionaltrabeculectomy(with or without ExPRESS microshunt implantation),tube shuntimplantation (a shunt is a glaucoma drainage device), and cyclophotocoagulation . There are also newer procedures calledMIGS, or minimally invasive glaucoma surgery.
Each type of glaucoma surgery has its unique uses, advantages and disadvantages. When considering glaucoma surgery, you should have a detailed discussion with your surgeon about the risks and benefits of the specific surgery you may undergo.
Which kind of doctor performs glaucoma surgery ?
An eye surgeon known medically as ophthalmologist carry out glaucoma surgeries.
Ask questions and ensure the doctor is medically certified by the MDCN to carry out such surgeries. Beware of quacks.
Where in Nigeria is glaucoma surgery performed?
You can have this surgery done in teaching hospitals, federal medical centres, and established private hospitals or private eye clinics.
Complications of glaucoma surgery
The following are (rare) glaucoma surgery risks or side effects to discuss with your doctor:
- Vision loss
- Bleeding in the eye
- Infection (endophthalmitis/panophthalmitis)
- Low eye pressure (or hypotony)
- Scarring
- Cataract formation
- Hyphema
Cost of glaucoma surgery in Nigeria
On the issue of the price of glaucoma surgery in Nigeria , the NIGERIAN HEALTH BLOG spoke with an ophthalmologist who have performed several of the prcedure and she said the surgery costs between N500, 000 – N800, 000 Naira. She however, said that the cost vary from one hospital to the other and is usually far less in govt-own teaching hospitals and Federal Medical Centres.
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