KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF GLAUCOMA AMONG THE HOSPITAL WORKERS IN A TEACHING HOSPITAL

INTRODUCTION-285 million people are visually impaired worldwide. About 90 of the world's visually impaired live in developing countries. Globally, glaucoma attributes to 2 of the major causes of visual impairment. The blind population in India is estimated to rise to 15 million by the year 2020. Glaucoma forms the third leading cause of blindness in India and included in the vision 2020 action plan. PURPOSE - To study the knowledge, attitude and practice of glaucoma among the hospital workers in a tertiary care centre. MATERIALS AND METHODS -It is a prospective study involving a convenient sample of 100 hospital staffs in a tertiary care centre. They will be interviewed using a validated questionarre in their own language by a single interviewer after obtaining their consent. data analysed statistically. INCLUSION CRITERIA - Medical and non-medical staff members. EXCLUSION CRITERIA - Persons not willing to participate in the study. RESULTS - The knowledge, attitudes and practices of glaucoma was found to be very poor among the hospital staff members, more so among the non clinical staff. There is therefore a need for more intensive eye healthcare promotion activities.