Overview:
World Glaucoma Week is an initiative that highlights glaucoma as the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide.
Objectives:
- Raising awareness of glaucoma through a series of engaging activities around the world.
- Inviting patients, eye care providers, health officials, and the general public to contribute to preserving vision and preventing glaucoma.
- Urging all people to get regular eye (and optic nerve) examinations to detect glaucoma as soon as possible.
Facts:
- Glaucoma is a common eye disease that leads to gradual damage of the optic nerve, which is usually a result of high intraocular pressure.
- Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world.
- There is no cure (yet) for glaucoma, so early diagnosis is the first and essential step to preserving your vision.
- Everyone is at risk of developing glaucoma, from children to the elderly.
- The elderly group is more susceptible to glaucoma.
- There may be no symptoms to warn you, and the pain is usually not related to increased eye pressure, and vision loss begins with peripheral or side vision.
- The best way to protect your vision from glaucoma is to undergo an examination. If you suffer from glaucoma, your treatment can start immediately.
Official Date:
Globally: March 10th to March 16th, 2024.
Locally: Shaaban 29th to Ramadan 6th 1445H.