WORLD Glaucoma WEEK (6th to 12th March)
Glaucoma is often described as the ‘silent thief of sight’ for it slowly grows and damages the Optic Nerve. World Glaucoma Week happens to be a global opportunity to mark this severe eye condition and the importance of eye care.
World Glaucoma Week is observed every year from 6 to 12 March. It is a collaborative project undertaken by the World Glaucoma Association and the World Glaucoma Patient Association. This initiative aims at the elimination of blindness caused by glaucoma by spreading awareness among people to have regular eye checks, including optic nerve checks.
At the end of 2013, approximately 64.3 million people worldwide were living with glaucoma. This figure is expected to increase to 76.0 million in 2020. There is an urgent need to devise new techniques and strategies to overcome the impact of glaucoma around the world.
Glaucoma is a very misunderstand disease and people often don't apprehend its severity. Here is all what you need to know about Glaucoma:
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a progressive eye disease which causes damage to the optic nerve. This can lead to irreversible loss of vision and even blindness.
What causes Glaucoma?
The risk factors for Glaucoma are age, family history of Glaucoma, Myopia (short sightedness), Hypermetropia (long sightedness), Diabetes and raised intraocular pressure.
What are the symptoms of Glaucoma?
Patients with glaucoma generally have no symptoms. You must have a complete exam with an eye specialist every 6 months in order to detect glaucoma early.
Occasionally sudden increase in eye pressure can cause blurred vision, headache, or the appearance of halos around lights.
Can Glaucoma be cured?
The answer is no. If diagnosed early and treated effectively, further progression can be prevented. Delay may cause irreversible vision loss in the affected eye.
“Glaucoma has emerged as the second leading reason for irreversible blindness. World Glaucoma Week is an important time to spread the word about this sight-stealing disease. Be an active citizen and help preserve people’s vision.”, says Dr. Rajat Anand, Senior Consultant – Ophthalmology, Metro Hospitals & Heart Institute.
To book an appointment with Dr. Rajat Anand, Call +91 99104 92867 or email to [email protected]
