Walkathon to Create Awareness on Glaucoma

Celebrities from the Telugu film industry, doctors, patients and the public participated in the ‘Glaucoma Awareness Walk’ at Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad. The Walkathon titled ‘Big: Beat Invisible Glaucoma’, was organised by L.V. Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI). It is being held until March 14. As the title theme suggest, the focus is on early detection and prevention of glaucoma through family screening.

Dr. Sirisha Senthil, head, Glaucoma Center, LVPEI said, “Glaucoma can lead to irreversible blindness. One in every 10 family members of glaucoma patients is affected with the disease, silently. This disease has no symptoms and significant vision is lost when detected. It is critical to create public awareness, to inspire those at high risk for development of glaucoma to go in for a comprehensive eye check including glaucoma evaluation to prevent needless blindness."

Screening family members of patients with glaucoma is mandatory, as this disease can affect siblings and children of patients with glaucoma in up to 10-20% of cases. And so is educating people about prolonged use of steroids, which in turn can cause glaucoma in children.

Dr. G Chandra Sekhar said, “Through awareness patients should be empowered to ask the doctor to specifically check for glaucoma." Dr. GN Rao said, “Everyone should undergo regular eye checkups and insist on eye pressure being checked by ophthalmologist during the check up.”

Late Akkineni Nageshwar Rao’s daughter Naga Susheela said, “My father had glaucoma and he took special care by undergoing regular checkups and treatment, that is how we all are aware of it. Take extra precaution, as glaucoma is hereditary. Glaucoma is a silent disease and by the time one realizes, it’s often late.”