Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of vision loss worldwide. Every year, World Glaucoma Day serves to raise awareness of glaucoma and how it can affect our vision.

This year, let’s come together to celebrate World Glaucoma Day by taking a closer look at glaucoma and how it affects the millions of people living with this condition. From understanding eye anatomy to exploring the latest treatments, we can all work towards seeing eye-to-eye and supporting those who are affected by glaucoma.

We can also learn about preventive measures, such as regular eye examinations that can help diagnose this condition early on. And finally, we can take steps toward preserving our vision and helping those who may have difficulty accessing treatment. Together, we can make a difference this World Glaucoma Day.

What Is World Glaucoma Day?

World Glaucoma Day is celebrated every year on March 12th, with the aim of helping raise awareness and promote early detection of glaucoma. Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, often caused by increased pressure within the eyeball. When detected early, it is more easily managed through medication, laser treatment and surgery. However, if left untreated, it can cause irreversible blindness. After cataracts and refractive errors, glaucoma is third most common cause of blindness world-wide.

The theme for World Glaucoma Day 2019 was “See the World: Screen for Glaucoma” to encourage people to get their eyes checked regularly and be aware of the seriousness of glaucoma , it’s symptoms and how it can affect our lives .

Regular eye checkups are important for everyone – whether you are young or old – in order to ensure your vision health is in good condition and that is main goal of World Glauomca Day. The stress is laid on encouraging everyone to “see the world” by getting their eyes checked from time to time - so you can hold onto your precious sight longer and

The Global Impact of Glaucoma

March is a month of spreading glaucoma awareness and education and understanding it’s impact on people around the world.

Glaucoma is a degenerative condition that has serious medical consequences. It affects over 70 million people globally, making it the second leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. The effects of glaucoma can be devastating: vision loss, permanent impairment of peripheral vision, impaired color vision, and even total blindness in severe cases.

The theme for this year's WGD is "Seeing Eye-to-Eye: Connecting For A Common Goal." This theme seeks to highlight that while we may all have our own individual experiences with glaucoma, together we can work towards a common goal to make sure everyone affected by this condition has access to the care they need to protect their vision and quality of life.

Warning Signs and Diagnosis of Glaucoma

Glaucoma is an often-unnoticed eye disease, since it tends to develop slowly and has no visible signs. As such, it's important to get regular eye check-ups and keep an eye out for any warning signs!

Warning Signs

Blurred vision or black spots in one or both eyes

Sudden loss of vision

Difficulty recognizing colors and contrasts

Halos surrounding lights

Eye pain

Nausea and vomiting caused by intense eye pain

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, it's important to seek medical advice from your eye doctor ( Ophthalmologist) . Early detection is the key to preventing damage from glaucoma.

Diagnosis

An Ophthalmologist will use a series of tests to diagnose glaucoma. This includes a detailed examination of your eyes, including:

Visual acuity test: This measures how clearly you can see at different distances.

Intraocular pressure (IOP) test: This measures the pressure inside your eye using a special tool called a tonometer .

Dilated eye examination: This allows your Ophthalmologist to look more closely at the inside of your eye through dilated pupils .

Glaucoma imaging tests : These are advanced imaging technology used measure the optic nerve head, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, retinal ganglion cell layer thickness and other structures in your eyes .

By getting regular check-ups, you can ensure that any glaucoma symptoms are caught quickly and treated accordingly.

Treatment Options for Glaucoma

Treating glaucoma is imperative to preserving good eye health, and there are several options available. Many patients find that combining treatments works best to control their symptoms.

Medications

Medications, such as eye drops, help to reduce the amount of fluid in the eye to relieve pressure. Eye drops may also be used to increase fluid outflow or reduce fluid production in the eye.

Surgery

Surgery can be used to create a new drainage path in the eye to relieve pressure or destroy tissue that produces too much fluid.

Laser

Laser trabeculoplasty is usually done when medications have failed.

Medical Devices

Medical devices like glaucoma drainage implants can be used for short-term or long-term pressure control by draining out excess fluid from the eyes. Implants are inserted into the eye, under the conjunctiva, and attach directly onto natural drainage channels. Pressure is relieved by allowing fluids to escape from these channels.

How to Celebrate World Glaucoma Day

World Glaucoma Day is an important reminder to take preventive steps and to raise awareness about the serious sight-stealing disease – glaucoma. Here are some ways to celebrate World Glaucoma Day:

Connect with Others

Reach out to your family, friends, and associates, and tell them about glaucoma. Even if they think they know all there is to know about it, you can share new discoveries or remind them of things they may have forgotten.

Get Tested

If you haven't had a comprehensive eye exam in the past year, now is the perfect time to arrange one. Glaucoma typically has no symptoms in its earliest stages and can only be detected through an eye exam. Early detection and treatment is essential for preserving vision.

Donate or Raise Funds

Research is essential for finding better treatments – or a potential cure – for glaucoma, so consider donating money or time to your favorite organization that supports glaucoma research. Fundraising activities on World Glaucoma Day can also help alert others about this important day while collecting additional funds to aid in research efforts.

Your contribution on World Glaucoma Day can make a real difference in educating people about this sight-stealing disease and supporting research efforts. Take action today!

How to Reduce Your Risk of Developing blindness due to Glaucoma

World Glaucoma Day is a good reminder to take steps to reduce your risk of developing this debilitating disease, including:

Have Regular Eye Exams - Regular eye exams are essential in detecting and treating glaucoma early.

Monitor Your Family History - People with a family history of glaucoma may be at higher risk of developing the condition themselves, so it's important to know your family's medical history.

Exercise Regularly - A healthy lifestyle can help reduce your risk of developing glaucoma and other eye diseases. Get active – even just a 30-minute walk around the block a few times a week can make a difference!

Eat Healthily - A balanced diet full of nutritious fruits and vegetables can help keep your eyes healthy too – adding fruits such as blueberries and avocados to your plate can help protect against glaucoma and other vision problems.

Wear Protective Eyewear - Wearing protective eyewear when engaging in contact sports or outdoor activities like cycling or skiing is essential in preventing injuries that could lead to glaucoma in the future.

Conclusion

World Glaucoma Day is a great opportunity to raise awareness and promote glaucoma screenings around the world.It’s important to remember that glaucoma isn’t just an old person’s disease - anyone can be affected by it, and early detection and treatment are the keys to preserving vision and maintaining quality of life. We must continue to educate ourselves and others about glaucoma and the importance of regular eye exams.

On this World Glaucoma Day, let’s come together to make sure that all of us can see eye-to-eye on preserving our vision!