LAUSR

Early diagnosis is always considered key in preventing blindness and for effective glaucoma treatment, with special focus on the elderly who need assistance and care.[1,3] The economic cost from glaucomatous visual impairment directly influences the daily functional quality of the individual and therefore is a challenge to eye health services if the disease is known to be asymptomatic.[1,3,4] While the effect of reduced threatened productivity is easily understood with a chronic blinding disease in the elderly population, such estimates in the younger population would have varied proportions and aftermaths. Therefore, knowing the clinical profile of glaucoma in younger patients or its value on resource allocation and societal burdens cannot be underestimated.[5] This study, while adding new information on the profile of glaucoma in patients aged < 40 years, also draws a parallel from previous studies that reported a male preponderance of the disease. However, this could also reflect the low socioeconomic strata of patients that precludes access to tertiary level care in that population or region. Yet, these regional population‐specific peculiarities of glaucoma in any setup is a valuable tool for clinical stratification and for formulating recommendations to policymakers. One such focus would be to increase the access of women in low access areas to tertiary eye care; it can be enhanced with telemedicine or by enabling referral/travel to higher centers.[6]