The prevalence of glaucoma in adults over the age of 40 years is estimated to be about 2.5-3.0% in rural india. (Aravind Comprehensive Eye Survey, 1993). The Glaucoma Services handles primary glaucomas, which are largely inherited, in addition to secondary glaucomas caused by trauma, inflammation, diabetes, retinal vascular disease and hyper mature cataracts. Equipped with the most advanced diagnostic tools, such as the recent version of Humphrey's automated perimeter and Optical Coherence Tomography to measure retinal nerve fiber thickness which is the earliest structural change in persons with glaucoma, the clinic is equipped to diagnose glaucoma at very early stages even before there is significant loss of vision. The clinic also serves as a large referral centre for the treatment of congenital glaucoma, a rare condition with increased eye pressure and corneal enlargement present at birth or during the first few months of life. A little over 2000 laser and glaucoma surgical procedures is being performed annually in each of the Aravind Glaucoma centres. Several research projects, including drug trials and prevalence studies, have been conducted by the Aravind Glaucoma services.

The Aravind Comprehensive Eye Survey (ACES), conducted in Madurai in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University, USA, was one of the first scientifically designed population-based disease prevalence studies in India. Currently, Molecular Genetics of various glaucomas is being studied with support from University of IOWA. The Centre is also now tied up with several Collaborators in the US such as at Wisconsin and Duke’s for research in glaucoma.

The Aravind-Zeiss Centre of Excellence in Glaucoma is established at Aravind-Tirunelveli with a commitment to combat blindness due to glaucoma, by enhancing quality of patient care and education of ophthalmologists in early diagnosis and therapy. The Aravind-Zeiss centre for glaucoma is well equipped with latest diagnostic and therapeutic modalities.

With the glaucoma services poised for significant growth in patient services, research and training, a need based assessment of human and other resources are planned.