Eye testing today to mark Glaucoma Day
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Glaucoma is a group of diseases of the optic nerve involving
loss of retinal ganglion cells in a characteristic pattern
of optic neuropathy.
* One person may develop
nerve damage at a relatively low pressure, while another
person may have high eye pressure for years and yet never
develop damage.
* Untreated glaucoma leads
to permanent damage of the optic nerve and resultant visual
field loss, which can progress to blindness. |
The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry and Ophthalmologists
Association will test the eyes of the people above 40 years at a special
clinic at the Colombo Eye Hospital, under Vision 2020 program to mark
Global Glaucoma Day which falls today.
Global Glaucoma Day will be conducted under the theme 'Glaucoma
disease impairs your vision without your knowledge', Deputy Director
General, Public Health Services of the Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry
Dr. P.G. Mahipala told a media briefing. He said for the first time
March 12 has been reserved as Global Glaucoma Day in Sri Lanka.
The World Health Organization said out of the 6,000 million global
population 45 million people suffer from complete blindness, 124 million
from less impaired vision and 153 million suffer from other various
vision impairments.
A World Health Organization report revealed that about 150,000 of Sri
Lanka's population suffer from vision impairment, in which 120,000
people are affected by glaucoma.
Further, four per cent of school children have been affected by
various vision impairments.
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