Hyderabad sees spurt in Glaucoma cases

​Hyderabad: Fifteen new Glaucoma patients are diagnosed every day at the L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) and according to conservative estimates about 30 new cases come to light every day in the city.

Alarming as it is, doctors blame the lack of awareness among people and among medical fraternity of the present state of affairs. Dr G Chandra Sekhar, Vice Chair, LVPEI says, “It is common for doctors to direct patients to get themselves tested for diabetes and blood pressure but not for Glaucoma. Majority of patients are unaware that the disease is persistent in them.”

Glaucoma is said to be a silent killer as there are no symptoms including redness of the eye or pain. There are one crore Glaucoma patients in the country out of which 10 lakhs are blind in one eye or both eyes. Dr Sirisha Senthil, consultant, VST Centre for Glaucoma Care says, “Diabetes can also lead to loss of vision but only a few are aware about this. Glaucoma is a disorder associated with increase in the eye pressure and is characterized by damage to the optic nerve leading to irreversible blindness.”

“Currently, in India, every eighth individuals either have Glaucoma or is at risk of developing the disease, 40 million aged 40 or older coming under in this category. 11.2 million Indians suffer from the disease with 1.1 million blind, including children,” added she early, the disease can be controlled. Loss of vision caused by Glaucoma is irreversible and cannot be restored.

However, successfully lowering eye pressure can help prevent further visual loss from Glaucoma.Doctors say that the loss of vision could be slow so after a patient is diagnosed people discontinue medicine as the deterioration is slow.

However, by the time they realize in many cases one eye gets completely blind. Narrating a recent case, Dr G Chandra Sekhar says, “A school boy was diagnosed with Glaucoma and was advised lifelong medicine. After five years the child was brought to us but by then he had lost 90 per cent of eyesight in both eyes.”

In Glaucoma, if a person is diagnosed with a certain percentage of loss, it cannot be reversed but with lifelong medication, complete blindness can be avoided. Dr Sreedevi Yadavalli of LVPEI says, “It takes just half-an-hour to test a person for Glaucoma. A simple test can save millions from blindness.”

Explaining further why Glaucoma is a sneak thief of eyesight, Dr Sirisha says, “A person adjusts to loss of vision. For instance, if a person is unable see an object they move their position and see it. In fact without adjusting their position they should be able to see. People keep on adjusting and do not get a test done. As the deterioration is slow by the time they get a test done, they lose 60-80 per cent sight.”