World Glaucoma Day set for March 6; OT official publication

Sydney, Australia-The first World Glaucoma Day will be March 6. The World Glaucoma Association (WGA) and the World Glaucoma Patient Organization (WGPA) are sponsoring the observance.

Ophthalmology Times has been named the official publication of the event and will provide coverage of the awareness and educational activities organized by glaucoma institutions and local patient support groups worldwide. The schedule is listed at www.wgday.net.

“Because glaucoma strikes so silently and gradually, it is absolutely crucial to educate people about the value of early detection,” said Robert Ritch, MD, professor and chief of glaucoma services at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, co-founder of the WGPA, and a member of the World Glaucoma Day committee for the WGA. “For a disease that causes permanent blindness, it is truly unacceptable that so many people remain unaware of its impact and consequences. Individuals in our country need to be much more vigilant about glaucoma, especially if they fall into one of the higher-risk groups.”

The WGA is an independent professional global organization composed of medical experts and institutions throughout the world. The WGPA is an umbrella organization that supports glaucoma associations and networks worldwide.