Health Minister C. Laxma Reddy has launched a public health campaign to fight glaucoma, recognised as the major cause of preventable blindness, to mark the World Glaucoma Week which began on Sunday.
The campaign is being organised by Centre for Sight and Hyderabad Ophthalmologists’ Association. Detailing the State’s plans to combat the eye condition, Dr. Reddy called for more public awareness about glaucoma.
“The thrust of this government has been on creating awareness, prevention, early detection and treatment. As part of several initiatives being taken by the government, the CM has thought of the eye check-up for everyone in the State,” he said.
“The plan will be ready in three months and people of the State will have eye screening, treatment and spectacles provided as well,” Dr. Reddy added.
A video which is a part of the campaign, was made to create awareness. The organisers also informed that eye-care experts in Telangana have pledged their time to the government to help combat the condition. Their assistance will be provided to patients remotely. As part of the campaign, a questionnaire has been devised that will help Asha workers detect the condition.
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that eventually results in damage to optic nerve and blindness. The organisers also said around 68 million people world-over have glaucoma and in India around 1.2 crore people are affected. They also estimated that 80,000 people in Hyderabad alone could be suffering from the condition.
On Sunday, L.V. Prasad Eye Institute organised an awareness walk flagged off by Tollywood actor Sumanth. The walk from LVPEI to Jubilee Hills Checkpost and back, was aimed at creating public awareness.
LVPEI experts said most people do not exhibit symptoms until advanced stage of the condition, where the damage is irreversible. They recommended regular eye-checks to diagnose it early.
