Glaucoma Awareness Walk

Hyderabad, March, 2011: L V Prasad Eye Institute organised a ‘Glaucoma Awareness Walk’ today from Prasad Labs to Jubilee Hills check post, to commemorate ‘World Glaucoma Week’. Tollywood Director S.S.Rajamouli & Music Director M.M.Keeravani flagged off the Walk in the presence of Dr. G. Chandra Sekhar, Director, L V Prasad Eye Institute & Director, VST Centre for Glaucoma Care; Ophthalmologists and patients.

The ‘World Glaucoma Week’ is from March 11th – 17th and aims to bring public focus on the eye disease that affects both adults and children. The Walk started at 7.00 am with over 200 enthusiasts including the faculty and staff of the Institute led by Dr G Chandrasekhar, Director, L V Prasad Eye Institute, participated in the walk. The participants carried placards banners with messages on prevention of Glaucoma, ‘Detect Glaucoma, Prevent Blindness’ and ‘Don’t Let Glaucoma Darken your Life’ - the theme for the Glaucoma week this year.

Glaucoma is seen as the leading cause of irreversible blindness in India, but unfortunately, a majority of the cases go undiagnosed. It is a disorder associated with pressure in the eye, and is characterized by damage to the optic nerve. The disorder is not a single disease, but rather a myriad of diseases with one final common insult, injury to the optic nerve.

Currently, 11.2 million Indians suffer from it, with 1.1 million blind. Childhood Glaucoma is a serious pediatric condition that many parents are not familiar with. According to the World Health Organization, 3 lakh children are afflicted with developmental glaucoma worldwide, and 2/3rds are already blind (WHO bulletin, 1994).

What is worryingly alarming is that 90 percent of glaucoma in the community is undetected, mostly because of lack of awareness. Since staying informed is the first step to tackle glaucoma, the “sneak thief of sight”, there is a great need to create public awareness.

“Low vision and blindness can have devastating consequences for individuals as it leads to loss of independence and reduces quality of life” says Dr G Chandra Sekhar, Director, LVPEI. “We urge the public to learn about prevention, early detection and treatment of Glaucoma. L V Prasad Eye Institute is very well geared to fulfil this societal need to eliminate avoidable blindness.”