World Glaucoma Week is a global initiative organized by the World Glaucoma Association. We invite patients, eye care providers, health officials and the public to join forces in organizing awareness activities worldwide. Glaucoma is the leading cause of preventable blindness, and distinct challenges may be present in different regions of the world. Our goal is to alert everyone to have regular eye and optic nerve checks to detect glaucoma as early as possible because there are available treatments for all forms of glaucoma to prevent visual loss.
WHAT IS GLAUCOMA?
Glaucoma is a chronic, progressive, degenerative disorder of the optic nerve that produces characteristic visual field damage. Glaucoma is the second cause of blindness, and importantly: it is irreversible.
It is estimated that around 80 million people have glaucoma worldwide. Approximately 50% of the individuals with glaucoma are unaware that they have the disease, and this number may be even higher in underdeveloped countries. This is because in its early stages, glaucoma is asymptomatic. If untreated, glaucoma may progress to blindness.
Periodic testing allows early diagnosis to prevent visual disability.