Doctors\\\' carelessness, patients\\\' ignorance cited as reasons for glaucoma blindness

Health experts said Saturday that doctors' carelessness and the patients' ignorance are the key reasons of blindness in glaucoma in Bangladesh.
They also said the government has to establish a system of glaucoma screening for the 90 per cent of glaucoma patients living in rural areas to bring them under glaucoma services as the rate of blindness varies from area to area. The blindness is higher in the periphery compared to the cities, they noted.
Their observations came at a discussion meeting and press conference on the occasion of observing World Glaucoma Day which falls on March 15. Bangladesh Glaucoma Society (BGS) organised the event at a city restaurant. BGS president Dr Nazrul Islam chaired the discussion.
Former health adviser to the prime minister eye specialist Prof Syed Modasser Ali was present as the chief guest while Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr Deen Mohd Noorul Huq, SAARC Academy of Ophthalmology Prof Ava Hossain, Ophthalmological Society of Bangladesh president Prof Shahab Uddin, Bangladesh Academy of Ophthalmology president Prof SK MA Mannaf were present as special guests.  
Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness. It is a complicated disease in which damage to the optic nerve leads to progressive, irreversible vision loss.
In his speech, Dr Deen Mohd said sometimes patients with vision problems visit doctors and are advised to use glasses. But they again come with established glaucoma as their optic nerve was not examined then by the doctors through which glaucoma could be detected. Somehow doctors overlook or miss it and the patients never understand the disease, he added.
Regarding the disease he said glaucoma cannot be detected through machines until 30 per cent damage occurs to the eyes. Male and female at their age of 35 to 40 should be examined to check glaucoma.
He said the government has to arrange screening facilities for the rural patients. The glaucoma society and other associations can work as the auxiliary force of the government.
"We will set up one vision centre in each upazila of the 64 districts where there will be a doctor, a nurse and a paramedic," said the noted ophthalmologist.
Dr Deen Mohd suggested regular treatment of glaucoma patients for whole life as well as follow-up to prevent blindness. He also called upon the ophthalmologists to examine the optic nerve of every patient coming to them with problem in their eyes.   
Although there is no official data available on blindness in the country, according to a previous survey conducted in 2000, it was found that on an average 1.0 per cent of the total population is blind, 2.1 per cent have been suffering from glaucoma while 1.2 per cent of them are blind. About 80 per cent of the country's blindness occurs from cataract, and 20 per cent for various other reasons.
The ophthalmologists said early detection of glaucoma can protect a person from blindness as all kinds of modern treatment are available in Bangladesh.  
BGS secretary general Nazneen Khan said three out of 100 persons aged over 40 years suffer from glaucoma while many children can be born with the disease. Every person should go to a doctor on a regular basis at least once in a year to test glaucoma.
She said people should go for a glaucoma test if their eyes are reddish, hazy or have blurred vision, the appearance of rainbow-coloured circles around bright lights, severe eye and head pain, nausea or vomiting (accompanying severe eye pain), sudden sight loss, severe injury in the eyes, children with big eyes or with hazy eyeball and the patients taking steroids for a long time.
Prof Ava Hossain said it is not enough to screen the patients in Dhaka only rather 90 per cent glaucoma patients who live in rural areas should come under screening programmes through eye camps.
Besides every doctor who treats patients with eye problems either at hospitals' or chambers, should test glaucoma.