LAUSR

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness. There are approximately 11.2 million people aged > 40 years living with glaucoma in India,[2] an estimated prevalence of 2.65%.[3] Of these, 3 million people are blind due to glaucoma, expected to double to 6 million by 2050. In India, glaucoma remains largely undiagnosed (>90%),[3] as most of the population lives in rural areas with poor access to health care. In a KAP study from North India, only 8.3% of the residents were aware of glaucoma while 1.89% had some knowledge about glaucoma.[4] By early identification and intervention, irreversible blindness in the advanced stages can be averted. Opportunistic screening by optometrists is one such chance at earlier detection. The better the optometry practices in the country, the lower the prevalence of visual impairment and blindness.[5] The usual cause for glaucoma diagnosis being missed at a primary care level is perhaps a lack of “comprehensive eye examination” performed by the primary eye care contact.[6]