World Glaucoma Week is a global initiative of the World Glaucoma Association (WGA) in order to raise awareness on glaucoma.
Worldwide 64.3 million people are affected by this disease and 2.1 million are believed to be blinded by the disease and another 4.2 million visually impaired. Approximately, 11.9 million Indians (36.4% open angle and 34% angle closure), above the age of 40 years are likely to be inflicted with this disease amounting to 12.8% of blindness in our country.
''So, early detection of the disease is must'' said Dr. R. Chitra, Medical Director & Consultant – Glaucoma ,Cataract & Refractive Surgery Service & Dr. Muralidhar R Consultant–Glaucoma & Pediatric ophthalmology Services, Dr. Padmini and Dr. Aiman Khan, Consultant Glaucoma
When quizzed about the World Glaucoma week, Dr. Ramamurthy, Chairman of The Eye Foundation stated “We, at The Eye Foundation on this momentous week, 10th to 16th March 2024 have reached out to the glaucoma population at our hospital base and beyond to create an increased awareness programme, more intensive than what is already ongoing and contribute to early detection and management of this blinding eye disease.
To commemorate the “World Glaucoma Week”, Free Eye Examination and Consultation for Glaucoma for all during the entire week at all our centres is being offered from Monday 11th March to Saturday 16th March. Patients requiring further investigation, treatment and surgery are being offered the same at a subsidized rate during this period, he added.