By TCN News,
Chennai: Glaucoma is the second leading cause of preventable blindness in the world. According to one study conducted in Chennai Muslims awareness level about this disease is very low compared to other communities.
A study conducted by a team of Vision Research Foundation between June 2001 and May 2003 found that Hindus are four times more likely to be aware of glaucoma compared to Muslims.
There are over 65 million people in the world affected by glaucoma. Glaucoma refers to disorders that damage the optic never resulting in vision loss. Though preventable if diagnosed early, it causes irreversible blindness. Late diagnosis is due to lack of awareness about this disease in the population.
The study conducted through questionnaire of 1480 urban and rural residents of Chennai found that only 13% of the study participants were aware of glaucoma. Of those who have heard of the disease 68% could not describe the condition. Women and elderly have more awareness about glaucoma. Education level also affects the glaucoma awareness, study found.
Study concluded that of the entire population under study only 8.7% had knowledge about glaucoma. Only 0.5% can be categorized as having good knowledge about it, 4% had fair knowledge and 4.2% poor knowledge about this disease.
A similar study in 2001 of Urban Hyderabad residents found only 2.4% awareness about glaucoma. Awareness among Chennai urban residents is 13.3%. [Dandona R, Dandona L, John RK, McCarty CA, Rao GN. Awareness of eye diseases in an urban population in southern India. Bull World Health Organ 2001;79:96-102.]
The Chennai study was published in Sept-October 2009 issue of Indian Journal of Ophthalmology.
Study authors Ramesh Ve Sathyamangalam, Pradeep G Paul, George Ronnie, Mani Baskaran, Arvind Hemamalini, Madan Raj V, J Augustian, Raju Prema, and Lingam Vijaya of Glaucoma Project of Vision Research Foundation of Chennai called for urgent health education on glaucoma and initially targeting the population at risk. They suggested regular preventive eye care and setting up patient awareness groups.
Defining knowledge levels of glaucoma:
subject was considered to have good knowledge, if he/she was able to identify the risk factors for glaucoma such as increased IOP, family history, and steroid use and was further able to meaningfully describe the condition and identify therapies for glaucoma such as eye drops, laser peripheral iridectomy, surgery.
Fair knowledge was considered if at least two of the risk factors were identified and a description on at least one treatment option was correctly provided.
Subjects were considered to have poor knowledge, if they were unable to identify even a single risk factor or treatment option for glaucoma. (TCN News)
