Ophthalmologists at a programme on Saturday suggested more responsible and appropriate use of steroid by physicians in treating eyes so that people can avoid any attack of glaucoma.
At present there are 20-30 per cent steroid-induced glaucoma patients out of the total 3.5 million in the country.
The rate of awareness is only 10 per cent against the global 50 per cent and around 2.0 million people have invisible glaucoma.
The eye specialists also noted that many of the physicians were still not efficient to diagnose glaucoma and they hardly advised eye screening to detect the killer disease at an early stage that could save eyes of many patients.
They advised glaucoma test along with normal eye checkup for every man and woman at their 35.
The experts were speaking at a discussion on Glaucoma Awareness and press conference, marking the World Glaucoma Week 2019 observed on March 10-16.
The theme of this year's Glaucoma Week was 'Go Get Your Eyes Tested for Glaucoma, Save Your Sight'.
Prime Minister's former adviser Professor Syed Modasser Ali was present as the chief guest at the programme organised by the Bangladesh Glaucoma Society (BGS) in the city.
BGS president Dr M Ziaul Karim chaired the discussion while Bangladesh Eye Hospital glaucoma consultant Professor M Nazrul Islam moderated the session.
BGS secretary general Dr Quamrul Islam made a presentation on 'Glaucoma and Its Awareness' at the event.
He said glaucoma became the major cause of blindness across the globe. Almost 3.0 per cent men and women at their 40 were suffering from this disease.
The rate of glaucoma in Bangladesh is 2.1 per cent while the blindness rate from the disease is 1.2 per cent.
Prevalence of 'invisible glaucoma' which is usually without any symptoms is more than 'visible glaucoma', said Mr Quamrul.
World Glaucoma Association is concerned about 'invisible glaucoma', he added.
Dr Modasser Ali said, "Under no circumstances, the patients should start self medication in treating eye problems. The doctors must advise the patients in details as far as their knowledge goes and the patients must take steroids following doctor's advice."
"But we do not talk to the patients for long," Mr Modasser observed.
According to a primary account, there are 3.5 million glaucoma patients in the country. But the number would go higher if screening was done, he said.
Former BGS president Professor Sheikh MA Mannaf said the patients genetically pre-disposed were at risk of steroid-induced glaucoma.
If steroid is used for treating their eyes, they may get glaucoma within 15 days.
He suggested testing the eye pressure within seven days after the start of using steroid.
"We have to ensure proper use of steroid, raise awareness of the doctors and check the pressure of eyes within 15 days for glaucoma detection," he said.
Referring to the child glaucoma patients, he said the parents often cannot understand the glaucoma symptoms after the child has any allergic eye conjunctivitis and the doctor prescribes steroid for seven days and not more than that.
The parents often do not come for follow-up and use the steroid for longer than suggested ultimately affecting the child with glaucoma.
Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) president-elect Ava Hossain said use of steroid for allergic conjunctivitis declined recently.
Doctors must be careful and the patients should also be aware that the use of steroid does not cross the time suggested by the physicians, she added.
The glaucoma patients present at the discussion shared their experiences about how they were affected with the disease, their sufferings, treatment situation and other aspects.
They demanded reducing the cost of glaucoma test and price of medicine in Bangladesh.
Eye specialists told the programme that people could avoid blindness from glaucoma through early detection.
They should check eye pressure regularly and changes in the optic nerves for early detection.
Besides, people at their 35 and who have diabetes and family history of glaucoma must undergo glaucoma test whenever they go for eye checkup.
They also have observed that general people cannot make difference between glaucoma and cataract.
Children at their five years of age and people at their 40 must check glaucoma, they added.
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