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World Glaucoma Day
10 Mar 2008
The World Glaucoma Association and the World Glaucoma Patient Association initiated the first ever World Glaucoma Day on March 6th through various events and media coverage. The importance of raising global awareness of the disease is highlighted by the fact that half of those affected by glaucoma are unaware they have the disease, a figure which can rise to 90% in developing countries. The joint collaboration hopes to encourage communities across all continents to undergo regular eye checks and prevent visual disability.
Glaucoma, the 'sneak thief of sight', is an irreversible disease which gradually and progressively leads to vision impairment, due to damage to the optic nerve. Diabetics and those of African descent are most highly at risk. Thus sight preservation is essential through eye tests and immediate treatment.
Laser treatment is often the first line of treatment in the West, and prostaglandin agonists such as Travatan (travoprost) and Xalatan (latanoprost) are also commonly used. But the important message being voiced by the annual event is that widespread knowledge of glaucoma and regular eye examinations to detect and prevent it are absolutely necessary.
