Fighting the glaucoma pandemic poses some complex challenges. Although this disease is one of the main causes of blindness globally, glaucoma doesn't elicit a 'sympathy factor' like other blinding diseases, mainly because of the wide geographical variation of required glaucoma prevention measures. More specifically, in developing countries where cataract or river blindness is endemic, there is little incentive to invest resources in diagnosing a disease that will require lifelong treatment and sophisticated follow-up. In developed countries, the pharmaceutical industry and health authorities consider that it is a relatively well-addressed disease, with limited unmet needs, especially when compared with conditions such as cancer, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or, in the field of ophthalmology, retinal degeneration.Furthermore, the specific visual needs of patients with glaucoma are not well known by the authorities, doctors, and sometimes by the patients themselves.

Add to these considerations the incredible fact that globally, for every diagnosed patient with glaucoma there is an undiagnosed one, and the need for increased glaucoma awareness,advocacy, prevention, and education becomes obvious. To jumpstart a global and highly visible effort to coordinate activities in these areas, the World Glaucoma Association (WGA) and the World Glaucoma Patient Association (WGPA) have taken the initiative of organising the first World Glaucoma Day on 6 March 2008, hopefully to be established as an annual event. While significant efforts are directed at achieving recognition of World Glaucoma Day by national or international organisations (several countries are considering issuing World Glaucoma Day stamps, for instance), this will mostly be a day for local events to be simultaneously organised around the globe, in the form of newspaper articles, radio and television coverage, screening campaigns, 'open-door' days at glaucoma clinics, and so on. As these events will ultimately rely on voluntary work at every level, the WGA is calling upon all enthusiastic and resourceful volunteers to propose and implement new ideas for local and global events, to make the first World Glaucoma Day a resounding success.

Maximise the impact of this initiative, please take a moment to visit either www.wgday.org or www.wgday.net

As glaucoma is a progressive disease causing irreversible visual loss, usually without warning until it is relatively advanced, and because 50% of affected people in the developed world, and 90% in developing countries, do not know they have the condition, and are not receiving treatment, we believe community awareness needs to be increased. This includes awareness of the disease, and of the need to have regular eye checks, thereby permitting earlier detection and avoidance of preventable visual disability.

We will work for recognition by national and international organisations and several governments in various ways, such as issuing commemorative stamps and media releases. WGA and WGPA will provide resources to assist local activities, including newspaper articles, radio and television coverage, public glaucoma ‘screening’ campaigns in public places and ‘open-door’ days at glaucoma clinics and ophthalmology departments.

WGA and WGPA ask you how you could contribute to the success of World Glaucoma Day. Please download the Expression of Intent form by clicking on the link below that lists various activities that could be organised on or around 6 March 2008. This is by no means exhaustive: all ideas would be most welcome, and would be shared globally. Please indicate to us what activities you would like to organise, or nominate someone who would work with you.

Click here to Download the Expression of Intent form

Please send the completed form electronically to one of the Physician Liaison Committee Members listed below, or to the WGPA board member or liaison officer in your country (cc: George Lambrou).

• Ivan Goldberg, WGA President and WGPA Co-Chair, Physician Liaison Committee
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• Robert Ritch, WGPA Co-Chair, Physician Liaison Committee
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• George Lambrou, WGPA EVP, Physician Liaison Committee; WGD Global Project Leader
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• Scott Christensen, WGPA President
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