Bangalore.: In a bid to raise awareness on Galucoma, one of the leading cause of blindness, the Bangalore Ophthalmic association, and the Karnataka Ophthalmic association, organized a Glaucoma awareness walk, where more than 300 eye doctors from the city participated.

The walk, started from Freedom Park, and end at Mahatma Gandhi statue, MG road, was fagged off by Eminent film director, Sri Nagathihalli Chandrashekar, and IG police Sri Jyoti Prakash Mirji, and RGUHS vice chancellor, Dr KS Sriprakash.

Worldwide, the second week of March every year is designated as World Glaucoma week. Eye care professionals around the world conduct awareness drives to increase public awareness of this leading cause of preventable blindness.

In Bangalore, the key ophthalmologists who organized the walk included Dr Gowri Murthy from Prabha Eye clinic, Dr Sushma Tejwani from Narayana Nethralaya  and Dr Sirish Nelivigi Nelivigi Eye Hospital.

Dr.Mahabaleswar, the president of the Karnataka Ophthalmic society said “Glaucoma is a leading cause of preventable blindness in our country, and more than 12 million persons are suffering from Glaucoma in India. The unfortunate fact is the more than 80% of these persons are unaware that they have this problem.”

Dr.Gowri J Murthy, leading Glaucoma specialist, and the organizing secretary of the walk said “It is very important that we promote routine yearly comprehensive eye checkups for all persons above 40yrs, whether or not they have any eye related complaint. A comprehensive check which includes eye pressure and optic nerve assessment can go a long way in early detection and prevention of blindness.”

“Glaucoma is a silent disease. Persons who suffer from Glaucoma may not have redness or pain, or other symptoms .They may be slowly losing their vision without being

aware of it. By the time the patient perceives deterioration in vision, the disease is advanced. ,” said Dr. Sushma Tejwani from Narayana Nethralaya.

Since the vision lost due to Glaucoma is difficult to revive, it is highly recommended to go for proactive check-ups so that the disease is diagnosed at initial stage and maximum eye sight can be protected and retained,” said Dr Sirish Nelivigi Nelivigi Eye Hospital.

Those with a family member with Glaucoma, Diabetics, persons with previous injuries to the eye, and those who use steroids are more at risk of this disorder.

All clinics, institutes and eye care professionals in the city are conducting awareness drives for glaucoma during the entire week, starting 9^th March.

The awareness walk is being conducted nationwide, as part of the drive by the Glaucoma Society of India.