Glaucoma Australia is encouraging eye health professionals to proactively raise awareness of glaucoma during World Glaucoma Week (11–17 March 2018). Hosting a B.I.G Breakfast where staff, suppliers and patients can discuss glaucoma, is the perfect way to do it.
Raising Risk Awareness Among Relatives
The national organisation, which educates the community about glaucoma, provides patient support and funding for Australian glaucoma research, will use World Glaucoma Week to encourage relatives of people with glaucoma to have a comprehensive eye exam by an optometrist or ophthalmologist from age 40 and every two years ongoing.
Despite being the world’s leading cause of irreversible blindness, more than 10 million Australians do not automatically think to have an eye exam by an optometrist or ophthalmologist, which can save their sight.
host a B.I.G Breakfast or event to proactively communicate this message and drive a new culture in Australian eye health awareness
More than 300,000 Australians have glaucoma, yet only 50 per cent have been diagnosed, typically because they lack noticeable symptoms and haven’t had a simple eye exam.
Tragic and Unacceptable
“Blindness from glaucoma is both tragic and unacceptable as it is largely preventable and treatable” said Glaucoma Australia Ophthalmology Committee Chair Dr. Simon Skalicky.
Anyone may develop glaucoma, but the incidence increases with age. About one in 10,000 babies are born with glaucoma, by age 40, about one in 200 have glaucoma, rising to one in eight at age 80. Overall, the incidence in Australia is about 2.3 per cent of the population.
“Considering you are 10 times more likely to have glaucoma if you have a direct family member with glaucoma, and up to 50 per cent more likely if their glaucoma is advanced, it is the relatives who we are reaching out to during World Glaucoma Week to be glaucoma aware and increase early detection. Our primary mission is to eliminate blindness due to glaucoma,” said Glaucoma Australia CEO Annie Gibbins.
Host a B.I.G. Breakfast
The Glaucoma Awareness campaign provides a wonderful opportunity for the eye-care professions to unite in promoting awareness, early detection, collaborative care and ongoing educational support from Glaucoma Australia. Businesses, optometrists, ophthalmologists, health professionals and people with glaucoma are encouraged to host a B.I.G Breakfast or event to proactively communicate this message and drive a new culture in Australian eye health awareness.
How can you get involved?
Register your B.I.G. Breakfast (or other event) with Glaucoma Australia and receive your FREE host pack.
- Invite your staff, suppliers and patients to attend your event
- Encourage staff, suppliers and patients to host their own events
Use your event as an opportunity to:
- Explain the 10 fold increased risk to family members who may inherit glaucoma
- Inform about the importance of early detection and treatment adherence
- Discuss glaucoma case studies
- Ask them to have a comprehensive eye examination which checks for Glaucoma
- Encourage your guests to subscribe to Glaucoma Australia’s FREE Glaucoma eNews for ongoing education and support.
- Raise funds for glaucoma awareness, detection, diagnosis, support and research.
For more information and to register for a B.I.G. Breakfast host pack visit Glaucoma Australia.
World Glaucoma Week runs from 11 – 17 March 2018.
