Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF) joins eye health organizations and eyecare professionals worldwide for World Glaucoma Week, March 7 to 13, 2010. The observation is designed to spread awareness and understanding about the importance of early detection of glaucoma, the world’s second leading cause of blindness – and the leading cause of blindness in African Americans.
Established by the World Glaucoma Association and World Glaucoma Patient Association, World Glaucoma Week is a unique initiative to help those with an interest in improved eye health to understand the devastating effects of a condition that could affect as many as 80 million people by 2020.
Experts estimate that half of the people with glaucoma are unaware of their condition, and could be slowly losing their sight because their glaucoma has not been diagnosed or treated.
“Glaucoma Research Foundation has been ‘spreading the word’ about the looming epidemic of glaucoma brought on by the world’s aging population,” said Thomas M. Brunner, GRF President and CEO. “World Glaucoma Week is an opportunity for everyone to help spread the word by talking about glaucoma – either your own diagnosis or family history, or simply sharing information and encouraging eye examinations. In this way we can all help to prevent irreversible vision loss from this ‘silent thief of sight’.”
Learn more about glaucoma.
Source
Glaucoma Research Foundation