KARACHI, Feb 27: Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world and early detection and early onset of treatment are the most important factors for preventing progressive glaucoma damage.

A comprehensive evaluation of a glaucoma suspect is the key to diagnosis and management. These views were expressed by Prof Nasir Saeed of Khyber Medical College, Peshawar, on Sunday during the concluding session of two-day KAROPHTH-2005 organized by the Ophthalmology Society of Pakistan.

Speaking on comprehensive evaluation of glaucoma suspects, he emphasized that the history of disease should include symptomatology; history of medication like steroid use, intraocular surgery like cataract, haemodynamic crisis, asthma, cardiovascular diseases, ocular trauma and pregnancy.

"Social history is important to see whether patient have access to treatment modalities and follow-up," he maintained. Talking on role of antioxidants in Age Related Mucalar Degeneration (ARMD), Dr Abdul Rasheed Qamar of Lahore said that the ARMD was increasing with time because of the increasing life expectancy. The magnitude of the problem was going to be tremendous in coming years, he added. -PPI