4.5% in every 100 people have Glaucoma 'Expert

A consultant ophthalmologist and glaucoma specialist at Apollo Hospitals, Indian, Dr Binita Thakore, has stated that in every 100 people, 4.5 per cent have glaucoma, the second leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide.Dr Thakore, who made the disclosure during a month-long campaign intended to raise awareness about glaucoma, explained that 'glaucoma is not the name of an eye disease by itself. It refers to a group of eye diseases that gradually steal your sight without warning and often without symptoms.'According to her, vision loss is caused by damage to the optic nerve, adding that such nerve, which acts like an electric cable with over a million wires, 'is responsible for carrying the images we see to the brain.'Dr Thakore stated further that high eye pressure is the main cause of optic nerve damage. This is just as she said that 'glaucoma is caused by a clear liquid called the aqueous humour that flows in and out of the eye,' adding that 'the liquid is not part of the tears on the outer surface of the eye.'Dr Thakore added: 'You can think of the flow of aqueous as a sink with the tap turned on all the time. If the drainpipe gets blocked, water collects in the sink and pressure within the inner eye increases, which can damage the optic nerve. Once the optic nerve gets damaged, a person loses vision that can never be regained. If the treatment of glaucoma is imperfect, a person can continue to lose vision.'The founder and chairman of Apollo Hospitals, Dr Prathap C. Reddy, who warned against the tendency to toy with the disease, said that 'glaucoma can steal vision so quietly that the patient can be unaware of the dangers until the optic nerve is badly damaged. Because no symptoms occur, the best way is to diagnose this disease through periodic medical eye examinations. In most situations, glaucoma cannot be cured. Treatment is given to preserve the existing vision. A complete glaucoma examination is necessary before any treatment plan is made.'Dr Reddy disclosed that Apollo Hospitals is collaborating with international communities to draw attention to the causes and effects of the disease, urging the public to take timely action before the disease takes full effect.With data from population-based surveys (PBS) indicating that glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness, accounting for eight per cent of blindness among about 50 million blind people worldwide, experts at the Apollo Hospitals have advocated increased awareness with effective medical management to stem the disease.
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