Awareness of Glaucoma among Diabetic Patients at A Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in Puducherry – A Cross Sectional Study

Glaucoma is a chronic, progressive optic neuropathy caused by a group of ocularconditions, which lead to damage of the optic nerve with loss of visual function. Theaim is to assess the level of knowledge regarding the association between diabetes andglaucoma, highlighting potential gaps in awareness. A cross-sectional approach wasemployed with 300 diabetic patients attending the hospital. Data was collected throughsemi-structured questionnaire and analyzed to determine the prevalence of glaucomaawareness, identify factors influencing awareness, and assess the impact of awarenesson preventive measures. Among 300 patients involved in the study, a mere 26individuals (8.6%) were familiar with the term glaucoma and only 14 individuals(4.6%) had some understanding of glaucoma. The subjects exhibited a notable lack ofawareness and knowledge about glaucoma. Findings from this research will contributeto valuable insights for healthcare professionals and policymakers to enhanceawareness programs, ultimately promoting early detection and management ofglaucoma in diabetic population.