Who Created World Glaucoma Day?
• World Glaucoma Day is a joint initiative,of the World Glaucoma Association (WGA) and the World Glaucoma Patient Association (WGPA), spearheaded by the WGA/WGPA Physician Liaison Committee
When is World Glaucoma Day?
• The first World Glaucoma Day is March 6, 2008, and it will take place annually in March
Why was World Glaucoma Day Created?
• World Glaucoma Day was developed in response to the concern over the worldwide increase in the number of people with glaucoma and the resulting increase in the number of people who could go blind from this disease as the population increases and ages, if they do not have the condition detected and treated.
• Most glaucoma patients do not know they have the condition – it is also known as “the sneak thief of sight” or the “silent blinding disease” as it causes patient-noticeable symptoms only late in its progress, when a significant part of the “vision capital” has been irretrievably lost. In developed countries 50% of glaucoma patients are not diagnosed and are not on treatment; in developing countries, up to 95% of patients have not been detected, and are not receiving therapy.
• Glaucoma damage to sight is irreversible, but treatment is usually effective in preventing further damage, so the earlier in the course of the disease effective treatment is commenced, the more sight can be preserved.
What is World Glaucoma Day?
• World Glaucoma Day aims to educate people about how to assess their risk for glaucoma and to be aware of the importance of regular eye exams and disease detection.
• World Glaucoma Day also seeks to provide support for diagnosed patients and for members of the advocacy community.
• Multiple events are taking place globally
Where does it take place?
• World Glaucoma Day will be marked worldwide, raising awareness of glaucoma for thousands of members of the public, healthcare professionals, government officials and the media.
• Members of the WGPA and other glaucoma advocacy groups are also organizing numerous local and national events.
What events are organized, and where? • You can find a list of all organized events in the World Glaucoma Day website, at www.wgday.net. You will also find other material (like multilingual World Glaucoma Day logos, posters, news releases, etc, as well as ideas for local events to be organized.
What can I do to help?
• Anyone can organize a local event. It is only required to register the event online (at www.wgday.net). You can also join an event that is organized near you, (like an educational conference, a glaucoma screening day, etc)
About the World Glaucoma Association and World Glaucoma Patient Association
Both the WGA and WGPA were created to minimize visual disability from glaucoma, and to better the lives of glaucoma patients around the world. The WGA works to optimize the quality of glaucoma science and care through communication and cooperation among national and regional Glaucoma Societies, with companies involved with glaucoma, glaucoma patient organizations and many others in the glaucoma community. The WGPA works globally to encourage the establishment of and cooperation among national Glaucoma Patient Associations worldwide. The group serves as an umbrella organization to provide useful information to individuals, health care providers and support groups that are devoted to the fight against glaucoma.
