Representational image (Photo credit: Pexels)

As a continuous effort toward driving disease awareness, Allergan, an AbbVie company, recently shed light on the need for early diagnosis and treatment for glaucoma. Globally, glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness after cataracts but is one of the commonest causes of irreversible blindness. It is estimated to cause blindness in 4.5 million people worldwide, whereas in India, out of approximately 12 million people who are suffering from glaucoma, 1.2 million people are already blind owing to this disease.

Unfortunately, glaucoma is largely undiagnosed, with more than 90 per cent of untreated cases. It has become a growing cause of concern for the country. Being a progressive and irreversible condition of blindness, early detection and management are of utmost importance.

Currently, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of glaucoma are possible with medicines, surgery, or laser treatments, so that further vision loss can be prevented or if already present, it can be stabilized in most cases.

Glaucoma is a condition that damages the eye's optic nerve (a bundle of more than 1 million nerve fibres that carry visual messages). The condition gets worse over time and is often linked to a build-up of pressure inside the eye. The increased pressure in the eye, called intraocular pressure, can damage your optic nerve, which sends images to your brain. If the damage worsens, glaucoma can cause permanent vision loss or even total blindness within a few years.

World Health Organization (WHO) categorizes glaucoma into several types, but the two most common are primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), which develops slowly over time, and angle closure glaucoma (ACG), which is less common and tends to be more acute.

In POAG, the rise in eye pressure is slow, hence the damage is also gradual. Glaucoma, therefore, is known as the 'Silent thief of Sight' as it creeps up without any initial signs and symptoms. There can be some common asymptomatic indications like redness and pain in the eyes, halos around lights at night, and regular changes in visual acuity. Hence, it is imperative that you have your eyes checked every year after the age of 40 for the early detection of glaucoma. A comprehensive eye examination includes a vision check, examination of the optic nerve, the measurement of eye pressure, and tests such as perimetry and OCT (Optical coherence tomography) in cases of suspicion.

Talking about the common causes of glaucoma Dr Ramanjit Sihota, Head, Glaucoma Services, Shroff Eye Centre, New Delhi said "You may be at risk of glaucoma if you have a family history of glaucoma or suffer from medical conditions like thyroid disease, high blood pressure, or other cardiovascular problems. Apart from these, those who take steroid-containing medications, have high eye power, or have had an eye injury or surgery should check their eyes regularly for early diagnosis of the condition."

She also emphasized that, "Although glaucoma is more common in adults, it can develop at any age. Childhood glaucoma, also commonly known as primary congenital glaucoma, is rare but is responsible for about 4 per cent - 8 per cent childhood blindness. An estimated 1 in 10,000 births is affected by primary congenital/infantile glaucoma.

Highlighting the need for timely treatment, Dr Rishi Jain, Medical Director, Allergan, an AbbVie Company, said, "India faces a considerable challenge in terms of eye care, including poor coverage and access to quality services for prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. A shortage of trained eye care service providers and poor integration of eye care services into health systems is a leading cause for the growing concern of vision loss."

"Glaucoma is an under-recognized and under-treated condition. A timely diagnosis and appropriate management can significantly lower the chances of vision loss. At Allergan, an Abbvie company, we strive to preserve and protect the vision of patients, by providing solutions that offer a better quality of life for people living with glaucoma. We work closely with healthcare practitioners and communities to raise awareness, engage, and empower people about this condition. We continue to research new treatments that address unmet needs, putting the patient at the centre of everything we do, working alongside communities of skilled ophthalmologists. Hence, making a remarkable impact on quality of life and care." He added.

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