Glaucoma: awareness is the first defence
Dr. Swati Goyal · 10 March 2024 · 5 min
Glaucoma is a group of conditions in which the optic nerve is damaged. That nerve connects the eye to the brain, so that the light entering the eye reaches the brain and the brain can recognise the image.
When that nerve weakens, light still reaches the eye — but the brain can no longer make sense of it.
There is no single symptom by which you could tell for yourself whether you have glaucoma. It is identified only through risk factors and testing.
The risk factors
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Blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease or migraine.
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Glaucoma already in the family — which puts the next generation at risk.
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A very high spectacle number, for distance or near.
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Long-term use of steroids for another condition.
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Previous eye surgery, or an injury to the eye.
What the numbers say
The World Health Organization has described glaucoma as the second leading cause of blindness. On the 2023 figures cited in the video, there were around 80 million cases worldwide, of which roughly 12 million were in India.
Whatever the precise count, the point is the same: this is a common disease, and India carries a large share of it.
The good news
Glaucoma can be controlled. Different medicines in the form of eye drops, laser treatment and surgery are all available options.
The way to protect yourself is simple — keep having your eyes checked regularly by an eye specialist.
And one request: tell your family and the people around you about glaucoma too. With this disease, knowing about it is the most effective protection there is.