World Glaucoma Day is observed on March 12th annually to raise awareness about glaucoma, a group of eye diseases causing irreversible vision loss. It emphasizes early detection, treatment, and prevention to combat this leading cause of blindness globally.
HISTORY OF WORLD GLAUCOMA DAY
The inaugural World Glaucoma Day took place in 2008 during World Glaucoma Week (March 10-16), spearheaded by global participants including Jillia Bird and Harry Abutiate. It launched a global effort to eliminate glaucoma-induced blindness.
THEME FOR 2024
The theme for World Glaucoma Day 2024 is "Uniting for a Glaucoma-Free World." This theme emphasizes global collaboration to combat glaucoma and prevent blindness caused by this condition through early detection and treatment efforts
WHAT IS GLAUCOMA?
Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, which is vital for good vision. This damage is often caused by abnormally high pressure in the eye. If not treated, glaucoma can lead to loss of vision. It's one of the leading causes of blindness for people over the age of 60.
TYPES OF GLAUCOMA
There are many types of glaucoma, with the two main categories being Open-Angle Glaucoma, which is the most common form and tends to progress slowly, and Angle-Closure Glaucoma, which is less common but can occur suddenly and is a medical emergency.
SYMPTOMS OF GLAUCOMA
Glaucoma often starts without symptoms, affecting peripheral vision first. Symptoms may include blurred vision and seeing rainbow circles. It can also emerge suddenly with severe eye pain, nausea, red eyes, headaches, and seeing rings around lights.
TREATMENT OF GLAUCOMA
Glaucoma treatment involves eyedrops to manage fluid levels, laser therapy for better fluid outflow, and surgery like trabeculectomy if other treatments fail, all targeting to control eye pressure and protect vision.