World Glaucoma Day 2025: Knowing the Significance and Facts to Treat this Silent Stealer of Vision
March 12th is celebrated as World Glaucoma Day every year to create awareness regarding this eye disease, which can cause irreversible blindness if not treated on time. Glaucoma has also been called the "silent thief of sight" because it can lead to irreparable damage to the optic nerve without resulting in any apparent symptom in the initial stages.
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma refers to a collection of eye disorders that harm the optic nerve, which conveys visual information from the eye to the brain. The harm is most commonly achieved by excessively high pressure inside the eye, referred to as intraocular pressure (IOP). If not treated, glaucoma can result in irreversible loss of vision and blindness.
Significance of World Glaucoma Day
World Glaucoma Day is celebrated to create awareness regarding the need for early detection and treatment of glaucoma. The day is meant to inform people about the risk factors, symptoms, and available treatments for glaucoma. Through awareness, we can make people go for regular eye check-ups and consult a doctor if they experience any symptoms.
Facts About Glaucoma
Following are some key facts about glaucoma that you must know:
Glaucoma is a major cause of blindness: Worldwide, glaucoma is the second most common cause of blindness, impacting more than 80 million individuals.
Glaucoma can happen to anyone: Although glaucoma is more prevalent in older individuals, it can occur in individuals of any age group, even in infants and children.
There are no detectable symptoms in the initial stages: Glaucoma may lead to damage to the optic nerve without exhibiting any detectable symptoms, so regular check-ups are essential for early diagnosis.
Glaucoma is not treatable, but it can be cured: Although there is no cure for glaucoma, it is treatable with drugs, surgery, or both.
Early treatment and detection can help avoid loss of vision: Glaucoma can be treated to avoid or delay loss of vision if caught early.
How to Celebrate World Glaucoma Day
Here's how you can celebrate World Glaucoma Day:
Get your eyes tested: Make an appointment with your ophthalmologist to have your eyes tested for glaucoma.
Raise awareness: Post about glaucoma on social media, talk about it to your friends and relatives, and inform your community.
Support glaucoma research: Contribute to organizations supporting glaucoma research and glaucoma awareness programs.
Maintain your eyes: Follow a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet, regular physical exercise, and proper sleep to maintain healthy eyes.
By commemorating World Glaucoma Day, we can collectively make the world aware of this disabling eye disease and promote individuals to act to safeguard their vision.