PREVALENCE OF GLAUCOMA IN PATIENTS AGED ≥ 40 YEARS ATTENDING A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE

Abstract

AIM:To estimate the prevalence of glaucoma in patients aged ≥ 40 years attending a tertiary care centre. BACKGROUND: Glaucoma is the second leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Glaucoma is a chronic progressive optic neuropathy characterized by retinal ganglion cell death and optic nerve head damage with associated visual field loss. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 170 patients aged ≥ 40 years attending ophthalmology outpatient department at a tertiary care hospital from 06.03.2022 to 12.03.2022. All patients underwent a comprehensive eye examination including brief history, anterior and posterior segment evaluation, IOP measurement.Perimetry,gonioscopy,pachymetry was done.OCT RNFL was done for glaucoma diagnosed patients. RESULTS: Glaucoma cases were diagnosed in 6 individuals among the total 170 study participants.In this study,prevalence of glaucoma was found to be 3.52%. CONCLUSION: People aged ≥ 40 years should be educated about the disease and its visual impact. Routine glaucoma screening should be emphasized in aged individuals for early diagnosis, prompt initiation of treatment and prevention of visual morbidity.