On the occasion of marking the World Glaucoma Week, on March 11th, 2015, medical personnel of the Ophthalmology Clinic of the University Hospital Clinical Centre Banja Luka conducted the costless glaucoma screening in the hall of the Central Medical Block. Citizens had the opportunity to undergo glaucoma tests which included eye pressure measuring, examination of the anterior eye segment, examination of the ocular fundus as well as filling in the questionnaires.
After completing the examination, every citizen was given a leaflet containing basic information related to glaucoma („silent thief of sight “). Also, doctors provided oral advices in relation to the disease. Owing to the support of media, response of the citizens was huge. Signs of the first stadium of glaucoma were recognized in certain number of citizens that filled in the questionnaires. Total number of the examined citizens was 353 i.e. 163 men and 190 women. Elevated values of ocular pressure were found in 29 citizens (IOP ≥ 21 mm Hg).
Examined patients were:
• 60 to 70 years old (152 patients)
• older than 70 years (82 patients)
• 50 to 60 years old (81patients)
• 40 to 50 years old (23 patients)
• younger than 40 years (15 patients)
The largest number of citizens i.e. 161 of them had high blood pressure and 267 examined citizens had one or more risk factors for glaucoma. Sixty-nine citizens had hyperlipidemia. There were 55 citizens with a family history of glaucoma, 35 citizens with diabetes and 33 smokers.
Costless screenings for glaucoma are significant for raising the awareness of citizens with regard to this disease as well as with regard to the existence of numerous risk factors that can lead to occurrence of glaucoma without noticeable symptoms. That is why glaucoma is called the “silent thief of sight”.
Standard procedure for work of the ethical committee of the clinical center (kc)