Overview
Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve and leading cause of permanent blindness worldwide. Although glaucoma is neither preventable nor curable, the progression of the disease can be halted with appropriate treatment. Once nerve fibers die and visual function is lost, it cannot be recovered. Treatment can only help preserve remaining vision; hence it is imperative to detect the disease in its earliest stage. Often, glaucoma is asymptomatic.
Therefore, people suffering from glaucoma may lose vision without knowing it. Regular eye exams are an important way to detect glaucoma. There are several types of glaucoma, and treatment depends on properly identifying which kind is present. One factor common to all forms of glaucoma is damage to the optic nerve. All types of glaucoma need some form of treatment. Treatment depends on the type and severity of glaucoma and it may be in the form of medication, laser therapy or surgery.
Glaucoma Dept. of IIEIH is the largest national referral centre for secondary and tertiary management of glaucoma. It manages over 25,000 glaucoma attendances annually. Our glaucoma consultants manage both paediatric and adult glaucomas with around 1000 glaucoma surgeries performed every year.
The Glaucoma Dept. is also involved in teaching at multiple levels. Residents who are specializing in ophthalmology rotate through the Glaucoma Dept. We also run the only fellowship programme within the country. The fellow is with us for 15 months. Fellows are ophthalmologists who have chosen to spend an extra 15 months subspecializing in glaucoma.
