World Glaucoma Day 

World Glaucoma Day is celebrated on March 12th. It is a joint initiative between the World Glaucoma Association and the World Glaucoma Patients Association and has had very good results over the last 8 years.

On this day, the aim is to raise awareness among the population of the importance of ophthalmological check-ups and early diagnosis of this disease, the second leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide after diabetes. Glaucoma is the second most common cause of blindness, with 4.5 million people currently suffering from it, and this figure is expected to continue to increase significantly in the coming years. World Glaucoma Day aims to draw attention to this group of progressive eye diseases and the importance of early detection. A 90% of the blindness caused by glaucoma could be avoided through early detection and appropriate treatment. Glaucoma is a disease that affects the eyes and is characterized by damage to the optic nerve caused by an increase in intraocular pressure, due to the fact that the fluid contained within the eye – aqueous humor – does not drain properly due to some obstruction, increases the amount of fluid inside the eye and, as a consequence, there is an increase in intraocular pressure. It is important to know that intraocular pressure is independent of blood pressure. Glaucoma develops over time without giving symptoms. If it is not detected in time, irreversible damage to the optic nerve can occur, causing a progressive loss of vision that can lead to blindness. Glaucoma can occur in one or both eyes. It affects both sexes equally and its incidence increases with age, with an estimated 2% of people over 40 suffering from glaucoma, reaching 5% of people over 60.