Specsavers and IGA raise awareness of glaucoma during World Glaucoma Week 2016

The International Glaucoma Association is focusing on the need for regular eye health checks to detect glaucoma, during this year’s World Glaucoma Week 2016. With 64 million people with glaucoma globally and an estimated rise to 76 million, it is vital that people recognise the importance of eye health.

A visit to the optometrist will quickly detect whether there is a risk of glaucoma, and once diagnosed, glaucoma can be treated. Although any sight lost due to glaucoma cannot be recovered, with regular treatment, useful sight can be maintained for life. This is particularly true in the UK, where it is estimated that there are 600,000 people with glaucoma, but around 50 per cent of these people are undiagnosed.

As a charity the IGA relies on the generosity of its members to help fund vital services including our helpline and our free patient literature. We are therefore delighted that the national optometry chain, Specsavers has chosen to both raise awareness of glaucoma and to raise funds for IGA during World Glaucoma Week 2016.

Specsavers will be donating £1.00 to the IGA for every tonometry test (puff test) which is performed in its stores during World Glaucoma Week.

Comments Karen Brewer, Head of Communications at the IGA “We are delighted that Specsavers are raising awareness of glaucoma in the community. In the UK, it is the most common cause of preventable sight loss, yet many are unaware that glaucoma has no symptoms in the early stages and this is why regular sight tests are so important”.

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