ABSTRACT

A group of conditions known as glaucoma are distinguished by visual field abnormalities, increased intraocular pressure as a modifiable risk factor, and gradual, irreversible optic neuropathy. This study evaluated levels of knowledge, awareness and practices towards glaucoma in adults living in Ovia North East L.GA. A cross-sectional survey design was conducted. A questionnaire was administered to collect data on their demographics, knowledge of glaucoma, awareness and practices towards glaucoma. The results obtained from the questionnaire was exported to Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) software version 22.0 by IBM for statistical analysis. The mean score for glaucoma knowledge (M = 2.61, SD = 0.817) suggested moderate awareness, while a lower mean score for preventive practices (M = 2.34, SD = 0.745) highlighted significant gaps in translating knowledge into action. Only 15% of respondents reported regular eye examinations, and 78% had never undergone glaucoma screening, despite 89.5% expressing willingness to participate in screening programs. Furthermore, adherence to anti-glaucoma medication was alarmingly low, with only 32.2% of prescribed individuals following treatment recommendations. Barriers to eye care included cost (39.8%) and accessibility issues (22.3%), followed by fear of diagnosis (10.8%). These findings indicate that structural challenges and personal factors significantly hinder the uptake of eye health services, underscoring the need for interventions to improve accessibility, affordability, and public awareness.

Keywords: Knowledge, public awareness, glaucoma, adults