Research Article

Glaucoma among the Malaysian Community

Table 3

Knowledge of glaucoma in the Malaysian community (N = 329).

VariableItemsN (%)

Anyone can have glaucomaYes28 (33.7)
No26 (31.3)
Not sure29 (34.9)

Glaucoma is treatableYes59 (71.1)
No6 (7.2)
Not sure18 (21.7)

Glaucoma is the same as cataractYes24 (28.9)
No33 (39.8)
Not sure26 (31.3)

An eye doctor’s check-up is the only way of early identifying glaucomaYes57 (68.7)
No9 (10.8)
Not sure17 (20.5)

Glaucoma be developed by contacting a person with glaucomaYes3 (3.6)
No53 (63.9)
Not sure27 (32.5)

Glaucoma caused by reading books, newspapers, or using a computer for a long timeYes31 (37.3)
No18 (21.7)
Not sure34 (41.0)

Glaucoma runs in familiesYes27 (32.5)
No26 (31.3)
Not sure30 (36.1)

Who is most likely to have glaucoma?People younger than 40 years old3 (3.6)
People older than 40 years old27 (32.5)
People of all ages are at the same risk31 (37.3)
Do not know22 (26.5)

Glaucoma has asymptomatic courseYes33 (39.8)
No18 (21.7)
Not sure32 (38.6)

In glaucoma, vision is affected in the early courseYes51 (61.4)
No12 (14.5)
Not sure20 (24.1)
Does glaucoma affectThe central vision6 (7.2)
The side vision16 (19.3)
Both the central and side vision11 (13.3)
Do not know50 (60.2)

Does glaucoma develop slowly over time or strike people suddenly?Slowly56 (67.5)
Suddenly4 (4.8)
Do not know23 (27.7)

Glaucoma causes blindnessYes55 (66.3)
No7 (8.4)
Not sure21 (25.3)