Overview:
World Glaucoma Week is a global awareness initiative that highlights glaucoma as a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide.
Objectives:
- Increase awareness of glaucoma as a major preventable cause of permanent blindness.
- Encourage all population groups, especially those at higher risk, to undergo regular eye and optic nerve examinations.
Facts:
- Glaucoma is a common disease that causes progressive damage to the optic nerve and may lead to permanent blindness if not detected early.
- Glaucoma is known as the “silent thief of sight” because it often develops without symptoms or pain in its early stages.
- Vision loss usually begins gradually in peripheral vision without being noticed by the patient.
- There is no cure for glaucoma to date; however, early diagnosis and regular treatment can slow vision loss.
- People of all ages can develop glaucoma, with risk increasing as age advances.
- Regular eye examinations are the only way to detect glaucoma before irreversible vision loss occurs.
Official Date:
Globally: March 8th –14th, 2026
Locally: Ramadan 19th –25th, 1447H
References