Awareness and Knowledge About Glaucoma Among Health Care Professionals in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Coimbatore

Introduction: Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide and is often diagnosed late due to its asymptomatic progression. Healthcare professionals, being the first point of contact for at-risk individuals, play a crucial role in early detection and referral. Assessing their awareness and knowledge is essential for implementing preventive strategies and improving patient outcomes. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted from September to December 2024 at KMCH Institute of Health Sciences and Research, Coimbatore. The study included 218 healthcare professionals excluding ophthalmologists, selected through voluntary opt in method sampling. A structured online questionnaire comprising 15 questions (1 awareness and 14 knowledge questions) was used. Each correct response was scored as 1 and incorrect or unsure responses as 0. Total scores were categorized as poor (0–4), moderate (5–9), and good (10–14) knowledge Results: Out of 218 participants, 201 (92.2%) were aware of glaucoma. Knowledge assessment revealed that 4% had inadequate knowledge, 46.27% had moderate knowledge, and 49.75% had adequate knowledge. The highest correct responses were related to glaucoma's association with diabetes (88.6%) and blindness (92%), while misconceptions were common regarding mobile phone use (49.3%) and spectacle use (64.7%) as risk factors. Conclusion: Although awareness of glaucoma was high among healthcare professionals, considerable deficiencies in specific knowledge areas could be identified. Misconceptions and lack of understanding about asymptomatic progression and necessity for lifelong treatment underline the need for targeted educational initiatives.