Apollo Institute warns of increasing glaucoma cases in India

INDIA— The Apollo Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in India has raised an urgent concern about the rising prevalence of glaucoma, which currently affects around 3.8% of the population over the age of 40.

This figure is expected to rise due to factors such as an ageing population.

This statement was made during Glaucoma Week, an annual campaign observed from March 9 to 15, which aims to educate the public about this silent threat to vision.

Often termed the “silent killer of vision,” glaucoma is a progressive disorder that damages the optic nerve, potentially leading to irreversible vision loss.

Globally, it impacts about 80 million individuals, with 11.2 million at risk of blindness.

The condition results from the loss of retinal ganglion cells and their axons caused by increased intraocular pressure.

The most common type, Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (POAG), accounts for roughly 80% of all glaucoma cases.

Early stages of glaucoma often present no symptoms, making regular eye examinations essential for early detection.

Initial clinical indicators include gradual and painless vision loss, elevated intraocular pressure, optic disc cupping, thinning of the retinal nerve fiber layer, and defects in visual fields.

As the disease progresses, symptoms worsen, resulting in severe vision loss, optic disc pallor, and more significant reductions in the visual field.

 Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma, on the other hand, can manifest suddenly with intense eye pain, blurred vision, redness, swelling, and a spike in intraocular pressure.

Early detection is crucial, as glaucoma is treatable; however, once vision is lost, it cannot be recovered.

Treatment options range from medications aimed at lowering intraocular pressure to laser surgery that aids drainage, and incisional surgery to create new drainage pathways.

Diagnosing glaucoma typically involves a comprehensive eye exam, which includes tests for visual acuity, tonometry, ophthalmoscopy, visual field assessments, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging.

Risk factors for glaucoma can be classified into two categories: modifiable and non-modifiable.

Modifiable risks include elevated intraocular pressure, systemic hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle, whereas non-modifiable factors consist of age, family history, ethnicity, and myopia.

By managing modifiable factors and attending regular eye check-ups, individuals can significantly reduce their risk of developing glaucoma.

Looking to the future, the global number of people affected by glaucoma is expected to soar to 111.8 million by 2040, with Asia anticipated to bear the brunt of this increase.

India and China are set to be particularly hard hit, whereby in India, glaucoma stands as a major public health issue, contributing to about 12.8% of blindness cases.

The lack of awareness and late diagnosis exacerbate the problem, with nearly 90% of cases remaining undiagnosed.

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