Abuja – As World marked Glaucoma Week Nigerians have given their stance on whether or not they could date or marry a visually impaired persons.
According to experts, Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, yet 90 per cent could have been prevented.

Residents of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), who spoke in separate interviews on Wednesday, gave reasons why they could be involved in a romantic relationship or otherwise with the visually impaired.

Miss Sandra Adams, an upcoming actress, said that she could care for a visually impaired man, but not to the extent of having romantic affairs with him.

“Dating or marrying someone who cannot see will be very challenging in all sense; it is easier said than done.

“It will be such a huge burden doing almost everything for the person, and that will be as good as not having a partner at all.

“How will the blind partner even see and share bad and pleasant moments with you,’’ she said.

Also, Mr Audu Ojeh, a fashion designer at Karu market, stressed that entering into a dating relationship with a visually challenged individual was not possible for him.

“Even if the lady goes blind while will are dating, I won’t go ahead to marry her, honestly speaking.

“However, if she is already my wife before she goes blind then I would continue with the marriage because of the marital oath,’’ Ojeh explained.

Another resident, a house wife and mother, Mrs Eunice Garba, whose husband went blind after 25 years of their marriage, described the experience as “unimaginable and harrowing’’.

“Living with a blind partner is an experience I never wished my enemy, because it is unimaginable.

“In fact, none of my children will even fall in love with a blind fellow, having experienced their father’s case.

“I am making the sacrifice because we are already married before the ugly occurrence,’’ she stressed.

Miss Faith Iheanacho, a civil servant, said that she could marry a blind person if she loved him and was convinced that he was her husband.
“I am a believer and I believe in divine connection because marriage is a divine institution ordained by God.

“So, If God instructs me to marry a blind person, why not. I will go ahead.
“I know it is difficult, but if established by divine instruction and purpose, then it can never be a thing of concern, because whatever God does is never bad,’’ she said.

Iheanacho added that people should look beyond the physical look but divine direction when making choice of a life partner.

However, Miss Linda Edet, a University student said that she does not think she could marry or date a visually impaired man.

According to her, taking care of a blind person, no matter the love, could be frustrating and miserable.

“You will have to be at alert always, as you virtually attend to every of his needs.

“Honestly, I cannot, but would admire whoever will do that,’’ she stressed.
NAN reports that World Glaucoma Week, which started in 2008, is a joint global initiative of the World Glaucoma Association (WGA) and the World Glaucoma Patients Association (WGPA)

It is geared towards raising awareness of glaucoma, what it does to sight, and how it affects society.

Nine million persons globally are blind from it and experts say that the number will rise as the population ages and increases.

Owing to the silent progression of the disease – at least in its early stages – up to 50 per cent of affected persons in developed countries are not aware of having glaucoma and are receiving no treatment.

This number, according to experts, rises to 90 per cent in less developed parts of the world.