Glaucoma - The leading cause of irreversible blindness in India. -

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in India. World sight day is observed on 8^th October and this year’s theme is ‘Hope in Sight.

It is an annual day of awareness held on the second Thursday of October, to focus on global blindness and vision impairment. It falls on 8 th October 2020. It is coordinated by International Agency for prevention of blindness (IAPB) under WHO VISION 2020 , The Right to Sight , Global initiative. This year the theme is ‘ Hope in Sight ’

More than 75% of visual impairment is avoidable. After Cataract, Refractions Errors and Diabetic eye disease comes Glaucoma. The blindness due to these major problems can be prevented. Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in India and at least 12 million people affected and nearly 1.2 million people blind from the disease. More than 90% of glaucoma cases remain undiagnosed.

Glaucoma can be prevented by regular eye check up

Early diagnosis and treatment of Glaucoma is the main goal to prevent blindness. This world sight day, the main focus is on the awareness of importance for regular eye check up in people above 40 years ,

Family history of Glaucoma
History of seeing Haloes around lights
History of long time use of steroids either locally or systemically.
History of myopia or frequent change of glass power.
Any history of injury or operation to the eyes

The public are requested to take note of these above points and have a complete eye examination by an ophthalmologist for early diagnosis of Glaucoma and prevent their eyes from going blind.

A slit lamp examination, applanation tonometry, visual field testing and dilated fundus examination are the key tests to be undergone periodically for prevention of blindness. Glaucoma can be prevented if diagnosed early and further progress can be stopped by local eye drops medications, LASER treatment to the eyes or surgical interventions.

Therefore, the public are requested to take this initiative of ‘Hope in Sight’ on this world sight day by IAPB and get their eyes examined for Glaucoma and other eye disease for early detection and prevention of the problem. An appeal to the public in this Covid times – we at Maxivision super speciality eye hospital are taking all precautions for a safe eye examination or surgery to the patient and all our staff and doctors are following the covid protocols sincerely.