World Glaucoma Week is being observed from March 9th to 15th, 2025. Glaucoma is known as the ‘sneak thief of sight’.

How does Glaucoma occur? Glaucoma is often associated with increased Intra Ocular Pressure (IOP) (eye pressure within the eye). Elevated pressure is often the result of blockage or a decrease in drainage from the eye, causing liquid inside the eye called aqueous to build up. Fluid pressure builds up over time and in turn leads to damage to the optic nerve fibres.

Signs of Glaucoma and its diagnosis:

One must visit the Eye doctor (Ophthalmologist) if one experiences:

• Fall in vision, headache, seeing colored halos around light sources or tunnel vision

• Pain in and around the eye Treatment

Unfortunately, Glaucoma, is an irreversible disease, and currently the only modifiable risk factor is the Intraocular Pressure. Therefore, treatment for glaucoma is aimed at reducing intraocular pressure (IOP). The three mainstays of therapy are:

• Medications, in the form of eye drops

• Laser therapy - Nd-Yag laser for peripheral iridotomy or selective laser trabeculoplasty

• Surgery - Conventional, Implants, Micro Invasive Glaucoma Surgery People with high risk of developing glaucoma are:

• Over 40 years of age

• Long term use of steroids

• Have family members who have glaucoma

• Are of African, Hispanic heritage or of Asian heritage

• Have high eye pressure

• Are farsighted or nearsighted

• Have had an eye injury

• • Have corneas that are thin in the centre or

• • Have diabetes, migraines, high blood pressure,

• poor blood circulation or other Health problems

• affecting the whole body.

People with more than one of these risk factors have an even higher risk of glaucoma.

Screening for Glaucoma for All:

Due to the progressive and irreversible nature of the disease, a baseline comprehensive eye exam at the age of 40 years is a must, followed by eye exam once in two years.

I joined the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Brindavan campus, in the year 1989. I was totally new to the culture of the Swami’s college. That year Swami visited our college after a year’s gap. Swami came and showered His blessings on all. Some of my batch mates got rings, some lockets and some got Shivalingas created by Bhagawan, by a wave of His hand. I could understand the rings and lockets being manifested, but when I heard that Swami had created Shivalingas, I was surprised. My understanding of Shivalinga was what I had seen in temples. They were large structures on a pedestal. So I was puzzled how swami had created such large structures and presented them to the students. Next day as we lined up to go to college, Swami was watching us from outside the interview room. Just when we started walking, Swami pointed at me and said, “You boy, go inside.” I could not believe my ears. I just rushed to Swami. Swami took me inside the interview room. There was already one family waiting for Swami. Swami made me sit next to them.

The family was sharing their problems with Swami and Swami was assuring them that He would take care of everything. As I was watching Swami, He suddenly waved His hand and a golden ellipsoid manifested in His hand. Swami told the husband to  perform abhishekam to it and drink the teertham everyday. While talking to them Swami turned towards me and said. “This is Shivalinga. Do you understand now?” I was taken aback, but still managed to meekly nod. “Now that you have understood, run to the college,” Swami said. Swami knows everything. Even the faintest thought that occurs in our mind is known to Swami and He answers those questions in His own way, sometimes directly and sometimes indirectly.

Lakshmi (name changed), a 49-year-old woman from Andhra Pradesh underwent a cutting-edge cardiac procedure known as Intracardiac Echocardiography (ICE) guided Electrophysiology Study with 3D mapping at the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Prasanthigram, recently. In this procedure ICE is used to echocardiographically guide a catheter to the precise spot inside the heart causing abnormal heart beats using 3D mapping and then it is safely ablated. This is a highly specialised procedure performed only in a few centres around the country.

According to the HoD of Cardiology, Dr. V.R. Iyer, using ICE has the advantage of real time imaging, less use of fluoroscopy (x-ray imaging) and also has less complications. As with all treatment at Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s hospitals this treatment is also provided totally free of charge to the patients.

The unfurling of the National Flag was followed by a talk by the Director and singing of patriotic songs by students.