New Delhi, December 30 (IANS). An ophthalmologist at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) said people above 40 years of age should get regular eye check-ups done to prevent blindness from glaucoma. Glaucoma is a disease that can gradually cause vision loss and lead to blindness.
Dr Tanuj Dada, professor of ophthalmology and head of glaucoma services at RP Center for Ophthalmic Sciences, on social media platform
Dr. Tanuj Dada said, “Glaucoma is called the ‘silent thief of vision’ because if left untreated, it can lead to permanent vision loss. If you are above 40 years of age and you have If you don’t have these symptoms, you should get your eyes checked every two years.”
He explained that glaucoma, also known as cataract, is a disease of the optic nerve of the eye, which is the largest cause of permanent blindness in the world.
“Glaucoma is called the ‘silent thief of sight’ because the disease often shows no symptoms,” the expert said.
People who are at risk of developing glaucoma include “those with diabetes, high blood pressure and those with a family history of glaucoma.”
The ophthalmologist said, “People who are using steroids, creams, eye drops, tablets or inhalers, or who have suffered any injury to their eyes, are also at higher risk of this disease.”
According to various studies, reports and hospital data, the problem of blindness due to glaucoma is increasing in India due to lack of awareness and timely detection.
In many cases in India, the disease remains undetected almost 90 percent of the time.
He stressed the importance of regular checkups, early detection and appropriate treatment for lifelong eye protection.
Dada said, “People who are at risk should get their eyes checked every year to avoid glaucoma. If you are above 60 years of age, then you should definitely get this checkup done. To prevent blindness from this disease, is a must.”
–IANS
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