Glaucoma is currently the world’s second leading cause of blindness, and we estimate that over 70 million people worldwide have glaucoma. Glaucoma is estimated to affect 12 million Indians; it causes 12.8% of the total blindness in the country and is considered to be the second most common cause of blindness in India.

By 2020 it is believed the no of glaucoma patients will increase to 16 million. Glaucoma is a group of related diseases that causes progressive damage to the optic nerve and eventually leads to permanent blindness. If left untreated, most types of Glaucoma progress with neither warning nor obvious symptoms to the patients.

Amritsar eye clinic (AEC) joins eye health organizations and eye care professionals worldwide for World Glaucoma Week (WGW), 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. This year’s WGW theme is “Don’t Lose Sight of Your Family.” The theme is designed to remind glaucoma patients that when they are diagnosed with glaucoma, the risk of other family members also developing glaucoma is increased several times.

AEC in an effort to spread glaucoma awareness to society conducted a press conference in which Dr Dinesh Sharma spoke to reporters about the disease and how it can be prevented. He also said that during this entire week the glaucoma patients will get free consultation, free counselling and medicines. AEC has extended its support to the glaucoma awareness campaign in the past too. We have been celebrating the WORLD GLAUCOMA DAY from last 2 years.