Coimbatore Society of Ophthalmic Surgeons (CSOS), Indian Medical Association (IMA), Coimbatore, and Glaucoma Society of India (GSI) organised an awareness rally at Race Course on Sunday to commemorate “World Glaucoma Week” from March 6 to 12.
Former president of IMA K. Shanmugasundaram flagged off the rally and the participants covered the Race Course holding placards.
More than 75 doctors and nursing student volunteers participated in the rally that was aimed at educating the public about the cause of blindness. Stress was on regular and comprehensive eye check ups, especially after the age of 40 years.
CSOS president Davdutt Thomas said that glaucoma was the second common cause of blindness, after cataract. “It is irreversible but preventable,” he said.
According to him, 93 per cent of glaucoma patients are unaware of the disease as there are no obvious symptoms in the early stages, due to which it is referred to as ‘silent thief of sight’.
Former president of IMA K. Shanmugasundaram flagged off the rally and the participants covered the Race Course holding placards.
More than 75 doctors and nursing student volunteers participated in the rally that was aimed at educating the public about the cause of blindness. Stress was on regular and comprehensive eye check ups, especially after the age of 40 years.
CSOS president Davdutt Thomas said that glaucoma was the second common cause of blindness, after cataract. “It is irreversible but preventable,” he said.
According to him, 93 per cent of glaucoma patients are unaware of the disease as there are no obvious symptoms in the early stages, due to which it is referred to as ‘silent thief of sight’.