Prevalence of Depression Among Patients with Glaucoma at Roshana Specialized Eye Hospital

Objectives: Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, with significant psychological consequences, particularly depression. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of depression among glaucoma patients at Roshana Specialized Eye Hospital in Herat, Afghanistan, and explore its association with demographic and clinical factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study (from March to September 2024) at Roshana Specialized Eye Hospital recruited 100 glaucoma patients via convenience sampling. Depression was assessed using PHQ-9, and data on demographics, socioeconomic status, education, disease severity, and treatment were collected via structured questionnaires. SPSS 27 was used for data analysis and Chi-square test was performed and the p= 0.05 was set the cutoff point of significance. Results: The study included 100 glaucoma patients aged 25–75 years, with 52% males and 48% females. Most were married (75%), illiterate (66%), and economically disadvantaged (55%). Surgical intervention (86%) was the primary treatment, and 76% had glaucoma for 2–10 years. Depression prevalence was 40%, with a significant association between poor self-reported health and depression (p = 0.026). Patients with a poor health state (27%) had higher depression rates compared to those with a moderate (7%) or good health state (6%). Other demographic variables did not show significant associations with depression. Conclusion: The findings highlight a high prevalence of depression among glaucoma patients in Herat, emphasizing the need for integrated ophthalmologic and mental health care. Routine mental health screening in glaucoma management may improve patient well-being and treatment adherence. Future research should explore longitudinal associations between glaucoma progression and depression.