Glaucoma Diagnosis Gap in India

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Glaucoma Diagnosis Gap in India
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• According to WHO, glaucoma is the prime cause for
  irreversible blindness in India. Glaucoma
  Diagnosis Gap in India highlights, about 1.2
  million have been rendered blind and at least 12
  million are affected. Glaucoma is a condition
  where an accumulation of fluid in the eye
  increases the intraocular pressure resulting in
  optic nerve damage. The prevalence of glaucoma
  increases with age. In India, there is a gap in
  glaucoma diagnosis that needs to be bridged by
  increasing awareness about the disease.
• There are two types of glaucoma, primary open
  angle glaucoma, and angle-closure glaucoma.
  Primary open angle glaucoma is the more common of
  the two. The latter could entail an acute angle
  closure attack and the patient may need immediate
  help from an ophthalmologist for appropriate
  treatment including laser iridotomy. Primary open
  angle glaucoma is painless and develops gradually
  (is asymptomatic), hence the person does not
  perceive any changes in the vision in the early
  stage. The affected person realizes the change in
  vision only after glaucoma has brought about
  significant damage to the optic nerve.
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• Importance of Glaucoma Diagnosis
• In India, almost 90 percent of those affected by
  the disease go undiagnosed. This gap in glaucoma
  diagnosis is alarming and early detection is
  crucial to prevent permanent blindness in
  patients. To detect any early signs of optic
  nerve damage due to open-angle glaucoma,
  ophthalmologists recommend regular eye exams to
  their patients. To be treated successfully,
  timely detection of the disease is critical.
• In both, urban and rural India, awareness
  initiatives regarding risk factors and the
  importance of regular eye check-ups are the need
  of the hour. In rural regions, there is a
  scarcity of both awareness and qualified
  ophthalmologists who can detect and treat the
  condition. In the preferred practice patterns of
  the American Academy of Ophthalmology,
  comprehensive eye examinations are recommended
  for regular patients to rule out glaucoma after
  the age of 40 years. However, this does not
  happen as a routine in India. Hence awareness
  about glaucoma and the need for comprehensive
  checkup needs to be emphasized.
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• Diagnosis and Treatment Techniques
• General ophthalmologists or sub-specialists carry
  out diagnoses for glaucoma in India. Treatment is
  customized and may vary based on the type of
  glaucoma.
• To detect glaucoma, eye-specialists carry out a
  series of tests to check the extent of the
  damage. The three screening tests comprise of the
  intraocular pressure, gonioscopy (a test to check
  the fluid drainage channels in the eye),
  examination of the optic nerve (nerve that
  connects the eye to the brain), and a test to
  check for non-seeing areas (scotomas) in the
  patients field of vision. Once diagnosed,
  open-angle glaucoma is treated with eye drops to
  alleviate the pressure in the eye. The patient
  must diligently take the eye drops life long as
  prescribed by the treating doctor. If the eye
  drops do not help to control glaucoma, the
  specialist may suggest alternatives like laser or
  surgery.
• Individuals interested in understanding the
  diagnosis, treatment, and management of glaucoma
  can sign up for our ICO certified course. It
  covers topics including pathophysiology of
  glaucoma, intraocular pressure, gonioscopy, disc
  evaluation, visual field testing, role of
  imaging, medical management and surgical options
  and management.
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