ANAELECHI AKACHUKWU FRANK

Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, and early detection is vital in preventing vision loss. Knowledge, attitude, and perception toward glaucoma influence early diagnosis and management. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and perception of glaucoma among students of the University of Benin. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 800 undergraduate students selected through stratified random sampling across 16 faculties. Participants comprised 432 males (54%) and 368 females (46%), aged 16–31 years (mean age 22.3 ± 2.7 years). Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS version 25 using descriptive and Chi-square statistics at p < 0.05. Results showed that 97.8% of respondents were aware of glaucoma, mainly through the internet (48.8%). However, only 26.8% demonstrated good knowledge, while 37.9% and 35.4% had fair and poor knowledge, respectively. Faculty of study significantly influenced knowledge, perception, and screening attitude (p < 0.001), while gender and age did not. Although 80.2% of respondents showed positive treatment attitudes, 48.4% had never undergone an eye examination. Most students (81.8%) recognized glaucoma’s hereditary risk, and 69.0% prioritized blindness prevention as an urgent health concern. the study found high awareness but limited depth of knowledge and low engagement in preventive eye care. Faculty of study played a key role in shaping awareness and behaviour. Targeted university-based interventions are recommended to enhance glaucoma literacy, promote regular eye screening, and reduce the risk of glaucoma-related blindness among young adults.