BACKGROUND: Glaucoma is a disease of public health importance that causes irreversible blindness with initial stage of the disease being symptomless. Low awareness and lack of knowledge about the disease among primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) patients will continue to aid late presentation with subsequent increase in avoidable blindness due to glaucoma. Awareness and knowledge are believed to influence health seeking behaviour of people and their uptake of services. This study was carried out to assess the awareness and knowledge of POAG patients and their accompanying first degree relatives, [FDR], about glaucoma in the eye clinic of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja. Interventions such as health education and newer strategies directed at patients and their relatives who are primarily at risk should help increase their awareness and knowledge of glaucoma. This would ultimately reduce late diagnosis and blindness from the disease. AIM: To assess the awareness and knowledge of primary open angle glaucoma patients and their first degree relatives about glaucoma with a view to making recommendations for improved glaucoma awareness. METHODS: A descriptive, cross sectional, hospital based study that assessed the awareness and knowledge of primary open angle glaucoma POAG, patients and their accompanying first degree relatives about glaucoma using an interviewer administered semi structured questionnaire to consecutive primary open angle glaucoma POAG patients seen in Lagos State University Teaching Hospital Ikeja and their accompanying FDR. Data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Scientist (SPSS) computer software version 20.