Over the past few days, eye hospitals have been hosting screening camps to drive home the need for early detection of the ophthalmic condition of glaucoma, which goes under the epithet of ‘sneak thief of sight.’
Organised as part of World Glaucoma Week under the theme, ‘BIG—Beat Invisible Glaucoma,’ the events sought to raise community awareness of a disease that involves a rise in intraocular pressure leading to optic nerve damage and subsequent visual loss.
According to the Department of Ophthalmology, Indira Gandhi Government General Hospital and Postgraduate Institute, glaucoma is the third leading cause of irreversible blindness in India.
According to a survey by the National Programme for Control of Blindness and WHO, glaucoma accounts for 5.8 per cent of total blindness in India.
And data indicate that the peril is on the rise, especially as nearly 50 per cent of glaucoma remains undetected.
The ophthalmology unit at the General Hospital organised several ocular examination initiatives involving Tonometry, Field charting, Pachymetry, Gonioscopy and Optic disc evaluation.
The OPD clinics were open to all segments of the general population, and attendees with symptoms and signs suggestive of glaucoma further evaluation and necessary management modalities were commenced free of cost.
Ophthalmologists said most people, particularly in the rural and remote parts of our country, become aware of the problem so late that by then vision in one eye would already have been lost along with a significant diminution of vision in the other eye.
The message for Medical Officers and the Para Medical Ophthalmic Assistants working in the PHCs was to refer patients above 35 years for screening of glaucoma.
Currently there is no treatment to restore vision once lost. The best way to guard against this illness is to undergo periodic eye evaluation, especially for people above 35 years of age. Early detection monitoring and treatment will slow down the progression of the illness and minimise visual loss, doctors said.
Vasan Eye Care Hospital is organising free glaucoma awareness screening through the month across its hospitals in Puducherry, Karaikal, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Panruti and Chidambaram.
