Sankara Eye Hospital announces campaign to raise awareness on early detection and treatment of Glauc

Press release for immediate publication:



Sankara Eye Hospital announces campaign to raise awareness on early detection and treatment of Glaucoma

Organizes free screening and educational programmes between March 6-13th- ‘World Glaucoma Week’

Rising incidence of Glaucoma in India- Quick facts:

• Glaucoma is the world’s second leading cause of preventable blindness, affecting approximately 70 million people worldwide and more than 12 million in India. The number of Glaucoma patients in India is expected to rise significantly to 16 million by 2020 due to an ageing population and lack of early detection symptoms of the disease.

• Population-based studies suggest that more than 90% of Glaucoma cases in India remain undiagnosed. This is in contrast to 40-60% rates of undiagnosed disease in more developed countries. These high rates of undiagnosed glaucoma translate into significant rates of glaucoma blindness.

• Glaucoma seems to affect the quality of life to a greater degree in India than in the West.



Bangalore, March 5, 2011: Sankara Eye Hospital, Bangalore among India’s leading community eye care hospitals, today announced a mass awareness and educational campaign on early detection and treatment of Glaucoma, on the occasion of the fourth annual World Glaucoma Week from March 6th-13th, 2011. Sankara has organized a week long free eye screening camp to detect early symptoms of the disease at its hospital in kundanahalli, besides a series of public awareness meets across the city, quiz shows on Glaucoma in hospitals and institutes, mass media handouts and a television panel discussion on Glaucoma. Sankara has also joined hands with Dignity Foundation, a non-profit organization working with the elderly, to hold a ‘Glaucoma Awareness Walkathon’ on Sunday, 13th March 2011 from 7 am to 9am.



Speaking at a press briefing in the city today, Dr Meena Menon- Head of the Glaucoma Services at Sankara said, "Since Glaucoma may not have early symptoms, the first step would be to be aware of the risk factors and ensure regular and complete eye checks. If left unchecked, it could irreversibly damage the optic nerve and result in vision loss over time. We have handled more than 2000 Glaucoma cases in our Bangalore hospital alone in the last 3 years. Sankara’s campaign is designed to increase public awareness of the risk factors for Glaucoma and reinforce the critical importance of having regular, complete eye examinations, thus trying to detect the disease early. Vision loss from Glaucoma being permanent, it needs to be diagnosed and treated as early as possible."









N.B Jayaprakash, Director, Dignity Foundation, Bengaluru Chapter said, "We have seen a number of elderly and senior citizens including members of our foundation struggling with vision problems. Increasing age, especially if one is over and above 35, is a primary risk factor for Glaucoma. The consequences of vision loss due to Glaucoma can greatly affect the independence and the self-esteem of the elderly and in turn they start reporting symptoms of nervousness, anxiety and stress. As a non-profit organization working closely for the aged, we are glad we are joining hands with Sankara Eye Hospital in raising awareness of this disease and working towards its prevention and early cure"



About Sankara Eye Hospital: Sankara Eye Hospital, Bangalore, is among the leading community eye care hospitals in India. It is a unit of Coimbatore based Sankara Eye Care Institutions, which runs a chain of super specialty affordable and quality eye care hospitals across India. The hospital adopts the 80:20 patient ratios, where-in 20% are paying patients and 80% belong to the economically underprivileged class and are treated free. It has played a commendable role in community eye care in the remote corners of the country through its numerous programmes in detecting and eradicating preventable blindness. Sankara Eye Hospital Bangalore and Shimoga provide quality eye care to 13 districts covering South and Central Karnataka. Over 60,000 patients have benefited vision-restoring procedures have been performed successfully till date in the State. Sankara has been recognized for its yeoman service to humanity, both in the country and internationally and has won many awards. Over the years Sankara has been recipient of awards like the ‘Namma Bengaluru Award 2010, in February, India NGO Award 2008, the Hospital Management Asia Award 2008 and the FICCI Healthcare Excellence Awards in September 2009 and 2010. For more information, you can visit www.sankaraeye.com

For editorial queries only, contact Santhosh PRHUB @ 22998141, 22483008/email: media@prhub.com



































Glaucoma- the second leading cause of preventable blindness in India

Fact sheet

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that cause progressive damage of the optic nerve at the point where it leaves the eye to carry visual information to the brain. Glaucoma is a general term for a group of eye diseases that, if left untreated, will elevate pressure inside the eye, ultimately causing optic nerve damage. This damage creates irreversible loss of vision. Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve. The optic nerve carries the images we see from our eye to the brain. Once incurred, visual damage is mostly irreversible, and this has led to glaucoma being described as the "silent blinding disease" or the "sneak thief of sight".

What causes Glaucoma?

Clear liquid, called the aqueous humor, flows in and out of the eye. This liquid is not part of the tears on the outer surface of the eye. The flow of aqueous fluid would be similar to having a sink with the faucet turned on all the time. If the "drainpipe" gets clogged, water collects and pressure builds up. If the drainage area of the eye is blocked, the fluid pressure within the inner eye may increase, which can damage the optic nerve.

Symptoms of Glaucoma

In chronic form of glaucoma, usually patients have no complaints in early stages or sometimes he/she may feel heaviness, headache or need to frequently change spectacles. Only in advanced stage he/she will experience reduced field of vision. In this type of glaucoma, patient usually feels a sudden attack of moderate to severe pain in and around eye with blurring of vision and rarely vomiting also. Sometimes patients may notice colorful circular halos around point source of light.

Who is at risk for Glaucoma?

You are at risk for glaucoma if you:

• Are over the age of 40 and do not have regular eye exams

• Have a family history of glaucoma

• Have diabetes, myopia or high blood pressure

• Suffer morning headaches or migraines

• Experience recurrent blurry vision

• See haloes around lights at night, Notice your peripheral (side) vision is decreasing or difficulty in night vision.

• Experience pain around your eyes after watching TV

• Have used steroid drugs (eyedrops,orally or inhaler) for any length of time



Two major types of Glaucoma: open angle and closed angle.

• Chronic open-angle glaucoma

Chronic open-angle glaucoma is the most common type of glaucoma. Over 90% of adult glaucoma patients have this type. It occurs when the drainage angle of the eye becomes less efficient or "clogged" and pressure within the eye gradually increases. In open-angle glaucoma, the angle where the iris meets the cornea is as wide and open as it should be but it malfunctions. In this type of glaucoma, there are no early visual symptoms and if not detected in time, it can cause irreversible damage to the optic nerves.

• Closed-angle glaucoma or acute glaucoma

Closed-angle glaucoma or acute glaucoma is the type of glaucoma which occurs when the drainage canals of the eye are blocked suddenly causing eye pressure to build up rapidly.

How is Glaucoma detected?

Regular eye examinations by your Ophthalmologist are the best way to detect glaucoma. As a medical eye doctor, your Ophthalmologist can detect and treat glaucoma. Various tests e.g. complete eye examination, optic nerve evaluation; intraocular pressure checkup, visual field charting (perimetry) and many other objective tests help to diagnose the glaucoma even in very early stage. Imaging studies (optical coherence tomography) helps in evaluating optic nerve.

How is Glaucoma treated?

Glaucoma is usually controlled with eye drops which are generally taken several times a day, sometimes in combination with pills. These medications decrease eye pressure, either by slowing the production of aqueous fluid within the eye or by improving the aquebus flow leaving the drainage angle. For these medications to work, you must use them regularly and continuously. As with any medication, it is important to tell all your doctors about the eye medications you are using. Also, regular follow-up and eye examination is very important to check control / progression of the disease. Laser surgery may be effective for different types of glaucoma. Operative procedures may sometimes be needed to control glaucoma.

How often should someone be checked (screened) for glaucoma?

• Age 20-29: Individuals of African descent or with a family history of glaucoma should have an eye examination every three to five years. Others should have an eye exam at least once during this period.

• Age 30-35: Individuals of African descent or with a family history of glaucoma should have an eye examination every two to four years. Others should have an eye exam at least twice during this period.

• Age 36-60: Individuals should have an eye examination every two to four years.

• >60 or older: Individuals should have an eye examination every one to two years.