Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness globally and it is estimated that more than 12 million people in India suffer from it. It is a family of more than 30 diseases that affects pressure within the eye (intraocular pressure) and damages the optic nerve.  Often called the ‘sneak thief’ of sight, people with most forms of glaucoma do not have symptoms until the optic nerve is already severely damaged. If diagnosed early, the disease can be controlled and permanent vision loss can be prevented.

Glaucoma services at SCEH are dedicated to providing the best care to our patients. This vertical is led by a team of experienced doctors and trained optometrist and paramedical staff.

The team, updated with protocols of medical and surgical practices of treatment, is one of the first to carry out minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries (MIGS) in India. It caters to the entire spectrum of the disease including complex paediatric and refractory glaucoma. The acceptable preferred practice guidelines are followed to provide appropriate comprehensive care individualised to patients’ needs.

The glaucoma facility at SCEH is equipped with state-of-the-art technology to carry out all interventions that may be required to treat the disease. The facility is ably supported by a diagnostic wing to conduct investigations that require use of visual field analysers (VFA), optical coherence tomography (OCT), ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM), pachymeter, and fundus camera.

With their regular exposure to national and international clinical trials and research, the team has made significant contributions in the form of peer-reviewed articles in journals and books/book chapters related to glaucoma, and also participated as faculty speakers at conferences organised globally, including World Glaucoma Conferences, Glaucoma Society of India (GSI) conferences, AIOS conferences, ASIA-ARVO, and DOS.

Training and knowledge enhancement are ongoing activities, with various diagnostic and clinical workshops being conducted at regular intervals for doctors/optometrists/vision technicians and allied ophthalmic paramedics. There are long- and short-term fellowships for national and international fellows. More than 100 glaucoma fellows have been trained in the last few years.