Narayana Nethralaya is gearing up create an awareness about glaucoma among the general public and to eliminate blindness by alerting people to have regular eye checks, including optic nerve checks. The education drive is planned across its 4 centres across Bengaluru.

As part of the World Glaucoma Week annually during the first week of March annually and this year it is from March 6-12, 2016. For the week long initiative, the eye care major has collaborated with World Glaucoma Association (WGA), Glaucoma Society of India, and the World Glaucoma Patient Association (WGPA).

According to the World Health Organization, glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. It is estimated that 11.1 million people will be blind due to glaucoma by 2020, accounting for an estimated 12 per cent of all world blindness. In the absence of preventive and corrective measures, the key is early detection and management, which makes a lot of difference, according to Narayana Nethralaya.

The awareness includes wide range of publicity-seeking activities involving ophthalmologists, optometrists, eye care workers, hospitals, universities, clinics, private practices and many private individuals, especially including those with glaucoma or with family members with glaucoma. Free screening for all the first degree relatives of patients with glaucoma has been organized during the entire week in all its branches said Dr K Bhujang Shetty, chairman of Narayana Nethralaya, Bengaluru.

The need of the hour is to spread awareness about glaucoma, enabling early detection and early initiation of treatment to prevent blindness said Dr Sathi Devi, head of glaucoma at Narayana Nethralaya, Rajajinagar.

Don’t let glaucoma steal your light. Get regular eye checkups done to detect glaucoma early and prevent blindness said Dr Harsha, head of glaucoma at Narayana Nethralaya, Bannerghatta Road.

A candle light walk is being organized on the March 6, 2016 from the Bannerghatta Road Branch of Narayana Nethralaya from 6 pm to 7 pm. This event would be flagged off by T S Nagabharana, director and actor of Kannada film industry and Sri V Manohar, music director of South Indian cinema.

Glaucoma is a disease that affects the optic nerve and is characterized by shrinkage of the field of vision. Damage to the optic nerve cannot be reversed, so vision once lost because of glaucoma cannot be regained. Though the exact cause of glaucoma in majority of cases is not precisely known, it can occur due to a variety of known reasons ranging from the use of steroid medications in any form to eye injury to complications after an eye surgery. Glaucoma can also be hereditary.