Doctors claim glaucoma causes 1.3 lakh Indians go blind each year

Wed, March 2016

Doctors say the leading cause of blindness among 1.3 lakh Indians every year is glaucoma due to the absence of early symptoms.

Medical statistics reveal, only 10% of the Indian population know that 68% of them have a risk of developing glaucoma, reports sources. It can be controlled if the proper medical treatment is taken.

"Glaucoma is called the silent thief of sight because in the early stages of the disease, there may be no symptoms. This condition threatens vision and is known to gradually steal sight without warning. By the time glaucoma is detected, the patient has already suffered extensive peripheral vision damage which can no longer be restored," said Samir Sud, ophthalmologist at Sharp Sight Group of Eyes Hospitals .

While glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in the US, Sud revealed India may soon be leading the race. Diseases like diabetes, hypertension and thyroid diseases are contributing factors that leads to glaucoma accelerating.

"A person suffering from myopia or near-sightedness, and ocular trauma or intra-ocular surgery in the past are also among the highly-prone people to suffer from glaucoma, which has 70% chances of turning the patient blind if the proper treatment is not taken in time," said Kamal B Kapur, a city-based eye expert.
An eye specialist also warned that chronic or primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is one of the most common type of glaucoma, which is generally painless and gradually damages one's vision. He explained that there are various types of glaucoma such as chronic or primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), which is the most common form with damage to vision gradual and generally painless.IANS