What is World Glaucoma Week?

World Glaucoma Week (9th - 15th March, 2025) is a global initiative dedicated to raising awareness about glaucoma, a group of eye diseases that lead to progressive vision loss due to damage to the optic nerve.

Through this week, healthcare professionals, organisations, and advocates come together to emphasise the importance of regular eye checks and early diagnosis, which can greatly improve the prognosis for those affected. 

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is an umbrella term for several common eye conditions where the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain, becomes damaged. It's usually caused by fluid building up in the front part of the eye, which increases pressure inside the eye. 

Glaucoma can lead to loss of vision if it's not diagnosed and treated early. It can affect people of all ages, but is most common in adults in their 70s and 80s.

Did you know?

• Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of preventable blindness.
• It is estimated that 600,000 people in the UK have glaucoma, with half of those undiagnosed.
• It affects two per cent of people over the age of 40, and this rises to five per cent of people over the age of 80.

Earlier this year our friends at the RNIB created this informative video, below, to explain further who is at risk of glaucoma. The video has subtitles, and if you would like to read the transcript it is available on their YouTube page (linked bottom left of the video). 

Between 2015 and 2035, the number of people living with glaucoma in the UK is expected to increase by 44%. With an ageing population and modern technology making earlier detection possible, more and more of us will find ourselves affected by glaucoma.

Learning that you have glaucoma or that you’re at risk for it can be hard to process. For most people, vision is the sense they rely on most in their daily routine. It can feel scary to imagine trying to adapt to and live your life after you have severe vision loss, but CamSight can help. In addition to our emotional support and counselling service, we are able to advise on equipment and accessibility features to help you adapt to a change in your eye sight, as well as peer support, assistance in applying for financial support and benefits, and inclusive activities and befriending volunteers to help in bespoke ways. 

Most forms of glaucoma are treatable, especially when diagnosed early. And with care and careful management, it’s possible to delay — or even prevent — permanent vision loss. If you think you or your loved one might have glaucoma, the best thing to do is to book a routine eye test at your local opticians. Glaucoma is often symptomless, so everyone should have an eye test every two years, unless you’ve been told otherwise by your doctor.