IIH Awareness Program Press Release

September is Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) Awareness month. L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), in collaboration with IIH Warriors India is hosting an IIH awareness program on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. IST at the GMR Varalakshmi campus in Visakhapatnam. The expert session accessible both in-person and online via Zoom Meeting Id: 84406652100, Password: LVPEI@2026, will shed light on the neurological condition and promote the theme ‘Not Just A Headache’.

Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) demands urgent attention because its symptoms often mimic common conditions such as migraine, common headaches, general weakness, and may go unnoticed until vision loss, double vision, or other complication begin leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment. Patients with IIH will need multidisciplinary care including ophthalmologists, neurologists, neurosurgeons and gynecologists, to help restore a near normal life. IIH can have serious consequences such as permanent vision loss and debilitating headaches if left untreated, making awareness crucial for both the public and healthcare professionals. Heightened awareness among healthcare providers and the public can enable faster recognition and management, preventing severe complications.

People experiencing IIH may notice:

• Persistent, unexplained headaches that can vary in intensity and location
• Visual disturbances like transient episodes of vision loss, blurring, or “greying out” of the vision, often triggered by changes in posture
• Swelling of the optic nerve (papilledema), which may eventually result in loss of vision
• Pulse-synchronous tinnitus (hearing a rhythmic sound in the ears) and occasional double vision

These symptoms demand early evaluation and diagnosis, which can safeguard vision and quality of life for affected individuals.

Equally concerning is the fact that this condition affects many people in the young, productive age groups. Infact there is an increase in the incidence of IIH, owing to the increase in the prevalence of obesity, anemia (low hemoglobin), and use of medications that can increase the risk such as acne preparations, vitamin A prepartions.

LVPEI through the IIH Awareness Program hopes to raise public and professional awareness of its invisible symptoms, enabling reducing delays in diagnosis and promoting proactive care.  Stakeholders, patients, caregivers, and the general public are encouraged to join and learn more about this often under-diagnosed condition.

For further information and participation details, interested individuals may contact Mrs. Sridevi Vempadapu: 70950 31666.

Attendees can also join the IIH Warriors India community (iih_warriors_india on Instagram) for ongoing support and advocacy in managing IIH.

Let’s come together to raise awareness about IIH and support patients.

About LVPEI: Established in 1987, with the vision, to create excellent and equitable eye care systems that reach all those in need,’ the L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), a comprehensive eye health facility, is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for the Prevention of Blindness.   

In pursuance of this vision, LVPEI clinician scientists work at the cutting edge of eye research. Through its five-tier ‘Eye Health Pyramid’ and cross-subsidy models, LVPEI provides more than 50% of its services entirely at no cost to the patient, irrespective of the complexity of care needed. LVPEI is among the world’s top eye researchers with over 5,000 published scientific papers in prominent international journals.    

For further information, please visit the Institute’s website, www.lvpei.org.  

Contact: Aneetha Kanukolanu, Associate Director- Network Communications   
Phone: +91 40 6810 2272  
Email: aneetha.kanukolanu@lvpei.org  
Website: www.lvpei.org

About IIH Warriors India

IIH Warriors India is an 8-year-old patient-led support and advocacy community dedicated to connecting and supporting individuals living with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) and their caregivers across India.

IIH is a rare, chronic and often invisibly disabling neurological condition that can affect multiple aspects of a person’s health and daily life. Management may involve a multidisciplinary team, including neurosurgeons, neurologists, neuro-ophthalmologists, ophthalmologists and primary-care physicians, depending on individual symptoms and clinical needs.

Over the years, IIH Warriors India has built a network of patients, caregivers and medical professionals. The community works to bridge information gaps by curating and sharing IIH-related resources, creating spaces for peer support through online platforms and meet-ups, amplifying patient perspectives, and encouraging greater awareness and research. It also advocates for equitable access to healthcare and reasonable accommodations that can support the quality of life of people living with IIH.

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/iihwarriorsindia
Email: iihwarriors.india@gmail.com