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This is a Cross-Sectional Study study.

September 10, 2025Open Access

A Cross-Sectional Study of Glaucoma Patients at A Tertiary Eye-Care Centre: Clinical Profile and Associated Factors

SHSyed Mohammad HamzaSir Syed University of Engineering and Technology MSMaria SultanBacha Khan University MWMuhammad WaseemShanghai University

Key Points

Glaucoma patients show substantial understanding and positive attitudes towards their condition, promoting engagement.
Among 374 patients, 91.2% acknowledged treatment effectiveness while awareness of early signs was only 51.1%.
This descriptive cross-sectional study surveyed glaucoma patients at a tertiary eye-care center to assess their profiles.
Understanding of glaucoma correlated with better management practices, highlighting significant barriers like financial issues.

Abstract

Background: Glaucoma is a progressive optic neuropathy and a leading cause of irreversible blindness globally. It remains largely asymptomatic in early stages, contributing to delayed diagnosis and poor treatment adherence. This study aimed to assess the demographic and clinical profile of glaucoma patients and identify factors associated with disease awareness, management, and follow-up adherence at a tertiary eye-care centre. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Ophthalmology, Mardan Medical Complex, Mardan, from May 2023 to September 2024. A total of 374 patients diagnosed with glaucoma were enrolled using consecutive sampling. Data were collected through a standardized questionnaire that included sections on demographic characteristics, patient understanding of glaucoma, perceptions about the disease, and reported behaviors related to treatment adherence and clinical follow-up. Responses were recorded using structured multiple-choice, Likert scale, and binary (yes/no) formats. Data were analyzed using SPSS 18.0, with a p-value of <0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: Among 374 glaucoma patients, 54.5% were male and 63.6% lived in urban or suburban areas. The most common age group was 41–50 years (29.9%), and 66.8% had at least secondary education. While 91.2% knew treatment can slow progression and 84.2% valued regular eye exams, 51.1% were unaware of subtle early signs, and 52.9% recognized its hereditary nature. Most patients prioritized treatment (89.3%) and trusted their ophthalmologists (95.7%), though only 55.6% saw lifestyle changes as important. Medication adherence was 82.6%, follow-up attendance 76.7%, but only 25.7% underwent surgery or laser treatment. Higher knowledge was linked to better practices (48.9%), with financial issues (44.9%) and lack of awareness (33.4%) as main barriers. Conclusion: The majority of glaucoma patients exhibit considerable understanding and positive attitudes towards their condition, showing high adherence to therapy and follow-up regimens.

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