World Glaucoma Week is a global initiative observed every second week of March that focuses on raising awareness about glaucoma and sight preservation. The theme for 2021 is ‘The world is bright, save your SIGHT’.
Glaucoma is an eye condition where the optic nerve connecting to the brain gets damaged due to a rise in pressure inside the eyeball. It’s a leading cause of blindness in those over 60. It’s estimated that the world population with glaucoma will increase to 111.8 million by 2040. There are two types of Glaucoma. One form of it causes severe pain, headache and prostration and leads to sudden loss of vision. The other variety causes slow, silent loss of vision and is detectable only at an advanced stage when 80% of vision and visual fields have already been destroyed. Regular eye check-ups are advocated to detect glaucoma at an early stage and prevent irreversible blindness. All types of glaucoma require lifelong follow-up and treatment.