World Glaucoma Day

This inaugural event is a joint initiative of the World Glaucoma Association and World Glaucoma Patient Association to raise global awareness of the disease.

Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, together with the RNIB, the International Glaucoma Association, and our research partners, the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and the Department of Optometry and Visual Science, City University London, are organising a special event the in House of Commons on 6th March.

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KEY MESSAGES FOR WORLD GLAUCOMA DAY

* Glaucoma is the number one cause of irreversible blindness worldwide

* Glaucoma is treatable and blindness can be prevented through early diagnosis

* Approximately 500,000 people are affected in the UK, half of whom are undiagnosed, and are therefore not receiving treatment

* Glaucoma is the second most frequent cause of sight impairment in the UK and a common cause of falls in older people

* High risk groups are older people (increasing risk over 40 years of age); those with a family member with glaucoma; and people of West African origin

* These groups should be made aware of the risks, and encouraged to request a glaucoma test from their optometrist

* Glaucoma has no symptoms in its early stages; people can lose up to 40% of their sight before they realise they have a problem

* More than 1,000 people a year in the UK go blind from glaucoma unnecessarily

* Fear of visual disability is the greatest concern for newly diagnosed glaucoma patients

* Many people are entitled to receive free eye tests for glaucoma. People who are over 40 and have a close relative with glaucoma; those who have diabetes; are aged 60 or over; who live in Scotland; or who themselves (or their partner) receive benefits, family credit or pension credit

Useful links

World Glaucoma Day www.wgday.net

International Glaucoma Association www.glaucoma-association.com

RNIB www.rnib.org.uk