<p>More children are falling prey to blindness due to long-term use of steroids in eye drops, said doctors. With the World Glaucoma Week on, those suffering from occasional headaches or redness should go for regular eye check-ups to avoid suffering from glaucoma at a later stage.<br /><br /></p>.<p>“Currently, we receive between 40-50 children who lose eye sight because of use of steroid over a prolonged period. This is an increase in the numbers than we have seen previously. The steroids are mostly in eye drops which are given when these children are suffering from allergic conjunctivitis,” said Dr Viney Gupta, Additional Professor, Opthalmology Department, AIIMS.<br /><br />The majority of these children are boys, he added.<br /><br />Glaucoma is the most common disease for loss of eye sight in India, said doctors. Long-term use of steroids in allergies and chronic diseases like inhalers or tablets for asthma or ointment can also lead to glaucoma. Those with a history of the condition in their famillies also fall in the high risk group.<br /><br />“There is a need for physicians to be aware of it so there is no indiscriminate use of steroids. The eye pressure has to be checked while examining the patient to assess the situation,” said Dr Gupta.<br /><br />But other factors like eye injuries, healed corneal ulcers, diabetic eye disease can also lead to glaucoma in some cases. So it is required for doctors to be able to identify these as potential causes of the disease at an early stage.<br /><br />Above 40 vulnerable<br />People above 40 are most vulnerable to glaucoma.<br />“Those above the age of 40 should go for a check-up annually. There are more number of cases of glaucoma now also because of increased life expectancy and improved awareness level,” said Dr A K Grover, Chairperson, Opthalmology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.<br /><br /> The most common causes that can lead to weak vision at a later stage are occasional headaches, red or misty eyes, difficulty in vision in dim light and bumping into things. <br />However, with most patients in the city not opting for a routine check-up, the factors easily go unidentified and leads to a severe form of the condition later. <br /><br />With better medication and safety procedures available, early treatment can prevent blindness in some cases, said doctors.<br /><br /></p>
<p>More children are falling prey to blindness due to long-term use of steroids in eye drops, said doctors. With the World Glaucoma Week on, those suffering from occasional headaches or redness should go for regular eye check-ups to avoid suffering from glaucoma at a later stage.<br /><br /></p>.<p>“Currently, we receive between 40-50 children who lose eye sight because of use of steroid over a prolonged period. This is an increase in the numbers than we have seen previously. The steroids are mostly in eye drops which are given when these children are suffering from allergic conjunctivitis,” said Dr Viney Gupta, Additional Professor, Opthalmology Department, AIIMS.<br /><br />The majority of these children are boys, he added.<br /><br />Glaucoma is the most common disease for loss of eye sight in India, said doctors. Long-term use of steroids in allergies and chronic diseases like inhalers or tablets for asthma or ointment can also lead to glaucoma. Those with a history of the condition in their famillies also fall in the high risk group.<br /><br />“There is a need for physicians to be aware of it so there is no indiscriminate use of steroids. The eye pressure has to be checked while examining the patient to assess the situation,” said Dr Gupta.<br /><br />But other factors like eye injuries, healed corneal ulcers, diabetic eye disease can also lead to glaucoma in some cases. So it is required for doctors to be able to identify these as potential causes of the disease at an early stage.<br /><br />Above 40 vulnerable<br />People above 40 are most vulnerable to glaucoma.<br />“Those above the age of 40 should go for a check-up annually. There are more number of cases of glaucoma now also because of increased life expectancy and improved awareness level,” said Dr A K Grover, Chairperson, Opthalmology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.<br /><br /> The most common causes that can lead to weak vision at a later stage are occasional headaches, red or misty eyes, difficulty in vision in dim light and bumping into things. <br />However, with most patients in the city not opting for a routine check-up, the factors easily go unidentified and leads to a severe form of the condition later. <br /><br />With better medication and safety procedures available, early treatment can prevent blindness in some cases, said doctors.<br /><br /></p>
