World Glaucoma Week is a joint initiative between the World Glaucoma Association and the World Glaucoma Patient Association and has had a highly successful run for the past 7 years.
IntraOcular Pressure (IOP) is one of the major risk factors for developing Glaucoma, and early detection is the major key to preventing blindness
Millions of people in Britain and worldwide are at RISK for developing Glaucoma. Glaucoma is usually symptomless and vision loss is irreversible. It is common for people to experience loss of peripheral (side) vision first. They compensate for this loss by turning their head without even realising that they are doing so.
Worldwide, 60.5 million people had glaucoma in 2010. Due to the aging of the world’s population, this number is likely to increase to almost 80 million people by 2020. Glaucoma affects the world economy by over $2.86 billion every year in productivity losses and direct costs.
Preventing blindness. Globally, millions have glaucoma, but only half of those know they have it. It is important to get the eye pressure (IOP) checked at least once a year. With early detection, medications and surgeries can be used to prevent further vision loss . Glaucoma is 6 to 8 times more common in African-Americans than Caucasians..