40 million Indians are at risk of glaucoma!

The ‘Glaucoma Awareness Walk’ organised by LV Prasad Eye Institute was flagged off by Tollywood star actor Sumanth, he also joined in the walk, on Sunday at LV Prasad Eye Institute, Banjara Hills.

Dr G Chandra Sekhar, Vice Chair, LVPEI; Dr Sirisha Senthil, Head, Glaucoma Services, LVPEI; Dr Siddharth Dikshit, Doctors, patients and volunteers, joined in the walk from LVPEI to Jubilee Hills Check Post and back.

The Walk was organised as part of the World Glaucoma Week being held until March 17, to build awareness on this ‘silent’ eye condition, which is seen as the leading cause of irreversible blindness in India.
Actor Sumanth said, “This is a wonderful initiative by LV Prasad Eye Institute for a wonderful cause.

On a personal note, my late grandfather Akkineni Nageshwar Rao had suffered from glaucoma. Though my family was aware of many, many things, even someone like my grandfather wasn’t aware of glaucoma till very late and he was diagnosed and treated here, in fact, he lost half of his vision before he was diagnosed.

I have a strong personal connection with this disease, my father was diagnosed with glaucoma in the early stages and he has been taking medication and because of the genetic nature of this I am a primary candidate to get the disease. I am happy to be part of this awareness initiative,”'

Glaucoma is a disorder associated with an increase in the eye pressure and is characterized by damage to the optic nerve leading to irreversible blindness. Currently, in India, every 8th individual or nearly 40 million either has glaucoma or is at risk of developing the disease. 11.2 million Indians suffer from the disease with 1.1 million being blind, including children.

Dr Siddharth Dikshit said, 90% of those with Glaucoma isn’t aware of they were victims of the disease. If they come early we can save the vision. Everyone above 40 has to regularly get a check-up done for glaucoma and it is mandatory for those with a family history.

The focus this year is on ‘Childhood and Glaucoma.’ Childhood glaucoma affects more than 300,000 children across the world and 2/3 of these children are already blind with ¾ of them living in developing countries. The high prevalence rate of primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) in the developing world is due to higher parental consanguinity in some communities.