Media Release
Udupi, Mar 13: Glaucoma is a leading cause of permanent blindness. World Glaucoma Week is celebrated worldwide in the second week of March every year with the intention of creating more awareness regarding glaucoma.
On the occasion of World Glaucoma week 2023, department of ophthalmology, Kasturba Medical College and Hospital, Manipal, and department of optometry –MCHP organised free Glaucoma screening and awareness programme on Monday, March 13. The theme for Glaucoma week “The world is bright, save your sight”. It reflects the hope that with regular testing, people continue to see the world around us.
Dr Padmaraj Hegde inaugurated the free screening camp and said, “Glaucoma is a silent thief of vision, slowly leading to total vision loss. World Glaucoma week is a unique campaign to draw attention to preventable, irreversible blindness worldwide. He also said that there are lot of people who are unaware that they have glaucoma disease and they do not know how to get the treatment for the same. Hence this awareness program is a noble programme to create awareness among the general public and treat the patients with glaucoma”.
Dr G Arun Maiya, dean, Manipal College of Health Profession, released the information brochure on Glaucoma. Dr Avinash Shetty, medical superintendent, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal distributed certificate of appreciation to the volunteers working for the glaucoma week programme. Dr Anand Venugopal, COO, teaching hospital, MAHE, Manipal, was present.
Dr Yogish S Kamath, head, department of ophthalmology welcomed the gathering and said, today Glaucoma screening camp is being held here and it will be held at Dr TMA Pai Hospital, Udupi on March 15 and at Dr T M A Pai Rotary Hospital Karkala on March 17, he urged the general public to take advantage of this.
Dr Neetha KIR associate professor, gave an overview of the programme and she spoke about the importance of early detection of glaucoma. Dr Krithica S, head, department of optometry proposed vote of thanks. More than 500 people benefited from today's camp.