Glaucoma is one of the biggest challenges in India as millions of people are affected by it
Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, including in India. It affects around 12 million people in India, with almost 10% of them having already lost their vision to the disease. Unfortunately, over 90% of glaucoma cases in the country remain undetected due to the complexities of identifying and managing the condition. As a result, many patients in India are needlessly blinded by glaucoma each year. The risk is particularly high for individuals over the age of 40, with one in 20 Indians in this age group either currently affected by glaucoma or at risk of developing it in the future.
Glaucoma is a devastating condition, with one of its major challenges being that most individuals affected are often unaware of it until it's too late, leading to irreversible vision loss. The economic burden of glaucoma blindness is significant not only for the affected individuals but also for the healthcare system, the government, and society as a whole. It increases healthcare costs, impairs the quality of life, and requires expensive rehabilitation for the blind, all of which affect a nation's economic growth. Early detection and timely treatment are crucial in preventing the consequences of this "silent thief of sight." As most cases of glaucoma occur among the productive age group, preventing early blindness is not only a matter of saving individuals' sight but also of preserving a nation's economy.
Raising public awareness and knowledge of glaucoma is critical in promoting public health-seeking behaviour for regular eye check-ups, which increases the likelihood of identifying undetected cases. It is also clinically beneficial and cost-effective to delay visual field deterioration and improve treatment compliance. Conversely, a lack of awareness leads to late detection and poses a management problem in preventing blindness from glaucoma. Unfortunately, poor public awareness and knowledge about glaucoma represent a significant gap. In developed countries, less than 50% of people with glaucoma are aware of it. This is even worse in developing countries, where few people know about glaucoma. Raising public awareness and knowledge of glaucoma is a critical means of addressing the devastating consequences of the disease.
Tackling the growing incidences of glaucoma:
To increase public awareness of glaucoma, it's important to launch campaigns and eye screenings to educate people about the condition. Community outreach programs can also be utilized to disseminate information about glaucoma, its symptoms, and the importance of regular eye check-ups. Additionally, novel methods such as stunts can be used to capture people's attention and raise awareness. To address the problem of glaucoma, it's important to support in-country healthcare systems and work with governments and local partners to ensure the integration of eye care services within primary healthcare. This means ensuring that people have access to eye care services, particularly those in underserved areas so that they can receive early detection, referrals, and follow-up care for glaucoma. Encouraging behavioural change is an essential aspect of managing glaucoma. One way to do this is by promoting regular eye checks, which the WHO recommends as one of the best interventions against glaucoma. By raising awareness of the importance of regular eye checks, we can encourage people to seek care early and improve the chances of detecting glaucoma at an early stage. Additionally, it is important to raise awareness of the long-term nature of glaucoma management. By educating patients about the long-term nature of glaucoma management and the benefits of continued use of eye drops, we can reduce patient dropout rates and improve the effectiveness of treatment. Every individual has the right to sight, regardless of where they live. As we mark World Glaucoma Week, we urge governments and international organizations to collaborate in addressing glaucoma as a public health issue. By working together, we can tackle this silent thief of sight and ensure that people have access to effective prevention, screening, and treatment services.
(The writer is President, of Entod Eye Health Foundation)
