Main Article Content
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Glaucoma is characterized by the progressive and irreversible loss of vision due to damage to the optic nerve. If left untreated it can lead to complete blindness. The management of glaucoma involves controlling the disease process to minimize the damage to the optic nerve, an essential part of which is early diagnosis and early treatment. The symptoms develop so slowly that unless the patient is aware and has knowledge about the disease, its early diagnosis is very difficult. Heightened public awareness about glaucoma may increase the chance of identifying undetected cases early. We wanted to assess the awareness and knowledge about glaucoma in patients coming to ophthalmology OPD of a tertiary care hospital in this study.
METHODS
This was a cross-sectional study conducted for one month among patients aged 18 years and above. A total of 205 patients were randomly selected from the ophthalmology OPD. A questionnaire was given to each patient and the responses were noted. Based on the responses given by the patients for each question, scores were given, and a conclusion was drawn. It was cross analysed with the patient’s demographic data.
RESULTS
Among the subjects, 109 (53.17 %) were males and 96 (46.8 %) were females. Out of 205 subjects, only 144 (70.2 %) subjects had heard of the term glaucoma. There were statistically significant differences between different age groups and their awareness of glaucoma (P < 0.001). Yet only 33.9 % had accurate knowledge of the disease.
CONCLUSIONS
Awareness and knowledge of glaucoma are low. An efficient strategy needs to be designed to increase the awareness and knowledge levels of glaucoma.
Keywords
Article Details
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References
- Nkum G, Lartey S, Frimpong C, et al. Awareness and knowledge of glaucoma among adult patients at the eye clinic of a teaching hospital. Ghana Med J 2015;49(3):195-9.
- Ahmad A, Ahmad S, Khalique N, et al. Prevalence and associated factor of Glaucoma in Aligarh, India - s population based study. Delhi Journal of Ophthalmology 2020;31(1):36-40.
- Kass M, Heuer DK, Higginbotham EJ, et al. The occular hypertension treatment study: a randomized trial determines that topical occular hypotensive medication delays or prevents the onset of primary open-angle glaucoma. Arch Ophthalmol 2002;120(6):701-13.
- Lamparter J, Hoffmann E. Measuring intraocular pressure by different methods. Ophthalmologe 2009;106(8):676-82.
- Alqahtani SM, Bakarman MA, Almanjoumi A, et al. Awareness and knowledge about glaucoma among patients visiting the screening clinic in Jeddah Eye Hospital. Int J Ophthalmol 2021;14(6): 887-95.
- Stamper RL, Liberman MF, Drake MV. Beker-Shaffer's diagnosis and therapy of the glaucomas. Elsevier Inc 2009.
- Ou Y. Open angle glaucoma: are theere symptoms? National Glaucoma Research July, 2021.
- Cowdin RM, Varma R, Wu J, et al. Severity of visual field loss and health-related quality of life. Am J Ophthalmol 2007;143(6):1013-23.
- Ahmad SS. Glaucoma suspects: a practical approach. Taiwan J Ophthalmol 2018;8(2):74-81.
- Gordon MO, Beiser JA, Brandt JD. The occular hypertension treatment study: Baseline factors that predict the onset of primary open-angle glaucoma. Arch Ophthalmol 2002;120(6):714-20.
- Doshi A, Singh K. Cost-effective evaluation of the glaucoma suspect. Curr Opin Ophthalmol 2007;18(2):97-103.
- Leske M, Heijl A, Hussein M, et al. Factors for glaucoma progression and the effect of treatment: the early manifest glaucoma trial. Arch Ophthalmol 2003;121(1):48-56.
- Rewari P, Kakkar M. Awareness, knowledge, and practice: a survey of glaucoma in North Indian rural residents. Indian J Ophthalmol 2014;62(4):482-6.
- Sathyamangalam RV, Paul PG, George R, et al. Determminants of glaucoma awareness and knowledge in urban Chennai. Indian J Opthalmol 2009;57(5):355-60.
- Alemu DS, Gudeta AD, Gebreselassie KL. Awareness and knowledge of glaucoma and associated factors among adults: a cross-sectional study in Gondat Town, Northwest Ethopia. BMC Ophthalmology 2017;17:154.
- Padmajothi MS, Chaitra MC, Anneshi RC. Awareness and knowledge of glaucoma among hospital personnel in a tertiary care center in rural Karnataka. Trop J Opthalmol Otolaryngol 2019;4(2):126-30.
- Sheffield V, Stone E, AW. Gnentic linkage of familial open angle glaucoma to chromosome 1q21-q31. Nat Genet 1993;4(1):47-50.
- Lim JH, Park JS, Lee SY, et al. Incidence of and risk factors for glaucoma in lost-to-follow-uo normal-tension glaucoma suspect patients. BMC Ophthalmology 2016;16(1):62.
References
Nkum G, Lartey S, Frimpong C, et al. Awareness and knowledge of glaucoma among adult patients at the eye clinic of a teaching hospital. Ghana Med J 2015;49(3):195-9.
Ahmad A, Ahmad S, Khalique N, et al. Prevalence and associated factor of Glaucoma in Aligarh, India - s population based study. Delhi Journal of Ophthalmology 2020;31(1):36-40.
Kass M, Heuer DK, Higginbotham EJ, et al. The occular hypertension treatment study: a randomized trial determines that topical occular hypotensive medication delays or prevents the onset of primary open-angle glaucoma. Arch Ophthalmol 2002;120(6):701-13.
Lamparter J, Hoffmann E. Measuring intraocular pressure by different methods. Ophthalmologe 2009;106(8):676-82.
Alqahtani SM, Bakarman MA, Almanjoumi A, et al. Awareness and knowledge about glaucoma among patients visiting the screening clinic in Jeddah Eye Hospital. Int J Ophthalmol 2021;14(6): 887-95.
Stamper RL, Liberman MF, Drake MV. Beker-Shaffer's diagnosis and therapy of the glaucomas. Elsevier Inc 2009.
Ou Y. Open angle glaucoma: are theere symptoms? National Glaucoma Research July, 2021.
Cowdin RM, Varma R, Wu J, et al. Severity of visual field loss and health-related quality of life. Am J Ophthalmol 2007;143(6):1013-23.
Ahmad SS. Glaucoma suspects: a practical approach. Taiwan J Ophthalmol 2018;8(2):74-81.
Gordon MO, Beiser JA, Brandt JD. The occular hypertension treatment study: Baseline factors that predict the onset of primary open-angle glaucoma. Arch Ophthalmol 2002;120(6):714-20.
Doshi A, Singh K. Cost-effective evaluation of the glaucoma suspect. Curr Opin Ophthalmol 2007;18(2):97-103.
Leske M, Heijl A, Hussein M, et al. Factors for glaucoma progression and the effect of treatment: the early manifest glaucoma trial. Arch Ophthalmol 2003;121(1):48-56.
Rewari P, Kakkar M. Awareness, knowledge, and practice: a survey of glaucoma in North Indian rural residents. Indian J Ophthalmol 2014;62(4):482-6.
Sathyamangalam RV, Paul PG, George R, et al. Determminants of glaucoma awareness and knowledge in urban Chennai. Indian J Opthalmol 2009;57(5):355-60.
Alemu DS, Gudeta AD, Gebreselassie KL. Awareness and knowledge of glaucoma and associated factors among adults: a cross-sectional study in Gondat Town, Northwest Ethopia. BMC Ophthalmology 2017;17:154.
Padmajothi MS, Chaitra MC, Anneshi RC. Awareness and knowledge of glaucoma among hospital personnel in a tertiary care center in rural Karnataka. Trop J Opthalmol Otolaryngol 2019;4(2):126-30.
Sheffield V, Stone E, AW. Gnentic linkage of familial open angle glaucoma to chromosome 1q21-q31. Nat Genet 1993;4(1):47-50.
Lim JH, Park JS, Lee SY, et al. Incidence of and risk factors for glaucoma in lost-to-follow-uo normal-tension glaucoma suspect patients. BMC Ophthalmology 2016;16(1):62.