Genetic Testing Can Transform Glaucoma Care, Experts Say at GENE-SIGHT 2026

Leading ophthalmologists and genetic experts have called for genetic testing to become a routine part of glaucoma care in India , saying it can enable early diagnosis, personalised treatment and family-based screening . The recommendation was made at the Genetics-enabled Social Innovation for Glaucoma Health & Treatment (GENE-SIGHT) 2026 conference held in Kolkata on Saturday.

The conference brought together ophthalmologists, geneticists, researchers, policymakers and industry representatives to discuss how advances in genomics can improve glaucoma management. Experts said wider adoption of genetic testing would require collaboration across healthcare, research, industry and government.

Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Arijit Mukhopadhyay , Professor of Precision Health at the University of Salford, UK, described glaucoma as the "silent thief of sight" , noting that irreversible damage often occurs before symptoms appear. He said genetic testing can identify individuals at high risk before permanent vision loss, shifting glaucoma care towards prediction, prevention and precision medicine .

Experts explained that genetic testing can detect inherited risk factors, helping doctors diagnose glaucoma earlier, tailor treatment to individual patients and recommend screening for family members who may also be at risk.

Prof. Sushmita Kaushik , President of the Indian Pediatric Glaucoma Society, said genetic information is increasingly valuable in managing complex glaucoma cases , especially when conventional diagnostic methods do not provide clear answers.

Participants also urged the development of evidence-based clinical guidelines , clinician training, stronger public-private partnerships, reimbursement mechanisms and greater public awareness to support the integration of genomic medicine into routine glaucoma care across India.