Glaucoma is a condition in which the pressure inside the eye is raised. Because of the elevated pressure, compression of the optic nerve cause slow but progressive damage to the nerve head. This condition, if left untreated, ultimately causes a total irretrievable blindness in one or both eyes. Treatment of glaucoma is usually in the form of life long anti-glaucoma medication or surgery to decrease the pressure. Medical treatment is usually very expensive in the long term, and also it is seen that most patients ultimately stop responding to the medication and have to undergo surgery. Surgical options include a very safe techniques called trabeculectomy. This procedure is highly successful, is a one time procedure, and is usually successful in controlling the pressure in over 90% of glaucoma patients.

Glaucoma : The Situation

Glaucoma, the 2^nd leading cause of world blindness, accounts for 15% of the global blindness worldwide. (Source: Bulletin: World Health Organisation, 1994;72:323-26)

The regional burden of blindness (RBB) is highest for India (23.5% of global blindness), with at least 5.8 million blind due to glaucoma.

Of the 200 patients attending the base hospital’s Free OPD on a daily basis, it was noticed that 20-30 patients of glaucoma were seen. Of these about 50% of the patients were unaware of their condition. By the time they reported to the OPD, it was usually too late and they had already suffered from irretrievable visual loss.

Also, in the various camps organised in different districts with the support of DBCS and HelpAge India, an estimated 10-15% of the patients attending the camp OPD are suffering from glaucoma.

Cataract and Glaucoma are major causes of preventable & curable blindness in India. The rural population of the state has very low rate of literacy and live under the poverty line. This population can’t effort to avail of the services of well-equipped hospitals of big cities. As stated above, a vast quantum of people are blind due to cataract and glaucoma. The existing government. infrastructure is unable to tackle the problem adequately.

If glaucoma patients are treated timely and the general mass is made aware about the problem and its methods of treatment, the incidence rate of people going blind due to this disease can be reduced to a very large extent.

Although a large number of organisations are actively involved in field of cataract eradication but all these organisations deal with cataract only ignoring glaucoma patients. These patients are at a risk of progressive blindness if not treated at an early phase. Important to note is that if these patients are not addressed now, tomorrow will be too late to help them !

Specific emphasis needs to be laid on the early detection & management of Glaucoma.