Chapters authored
Psychosocial Aspects of Glaucoma
Glaucoma, not only leads to irreversible visual impairment, but also has a negative impact on Quality of Life of the patients. Visual disability, lifelong medical and surgical treatments and even the mere knowledge of having an irreversible potentially blinding condition tend to cause severe psychological stress in patients, leading to negative emotions such as anxiety or depression. The goal of glaucoma treatment should not be limited to preserving the vision, but also address the psychological aspects and preservation of patient wellbeing. Patient counselling, right from at the time of diagnosis, periodic psychological assessment and creating awareness in the society as a whole should be implemented as a part of holistic approach to glaucoma. Utilisation of Patient- reported quality of life tools would help clinicians in more closely understanding the problems and would, in turn, aid in providing comprehensive customised treatment option for each patient.
Part of the book: Ocular Hypertension