Welcare World Health Systems will join eye care professionals around the world to observe the first-ever World Glaucoma Day.

Spearheaded by the World Glaucoma Association and the World Glaucoma Patient Association, the inaugural World Glaucoma Day, to be held on March 6, 2008, will be a global initiative aimed at raising awareness of glaucoma, a disease that affects approximately 65 million people worldwide.

“Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world, which underscores the importance of a global initiative such as World Glaucoma Day,” said specialist ophthalmologist, Welcare Ambulatory Care Centre, Dr Mamta Mittal.

“While glaucoma cannot be prevented or cured, early detection and treatment can help to preserve sight. Individuals over the age of 40 years and those with a family history of glaucoma and other risk factors such as diabetes and high myopia should have regular, comprehensive eye exams that include careful evaluation of the optic nerve and measurement of eye pressure.”

To support World Glaucoma Day in Dubai, all Welcare Clinics are holding a free glaucoma screening camp between 9am and 1pm while Welcare Eye Centre will host a week-long campaign from March 8 to 12.

For registration please call 04 3624862.  Welcare units will also be disseminating factual information about the disease to help raise awareness and detect early signs of the condition.

Glaucoma is a slowly progressive disease of the eye which causes damage to the optic nerve (the nerve that sends visual messages from the eye to the brain) leading to an irreversible reduction in the field of vision, and blindness if left untreated.  While no one knows what exactly causes this damage, build up of pressure within the eye is proven to be one of the major risk factors associated with glaucoma.

Anyone who falls under these risk factors, or fear they might be at risk of glaucoma are urged to attend their nearest Welcare unit and avail of the free screenings on offer. – TradeArabia News Service