Glaucoma Australia will host a patient symposium and free glaucoma risk screening clinic at the 8th World Glaucoma Congress in Melbourne on 27 March 2019. The World Glaucoma Congress is the premier international glaucoma meeting, bringing together experts in glaucoma research and clinical practice from around the world. 2019 will be the first time the World Glaucoma Congress will be held in Australia.
Prior to the commencement of the patient symposium Glaucoma Australia will host a free glaucoma risk screening clinic for family members of glaucoma patients to promote the importance of a regular eye exam.
“We know that glaucoma runs in families and that there are approximately 150,000 Australians who have this blinding eye disease, but remain undiagnosed because they have not had a simple eye exam,” said Annie Gibbins, CEO of Glaucoma Australia.
People are up to 10x more likely to have glaucoma if they have a direct family member with glaucoma, making a visit to the optometrist or ophthalmologist every two years the best opportunity to detect glaucoma in its early stages before significant damage occurs.
delegates will have the opportunity to hear from some of Australia’s leading glaucoma specialists about the latest lab based glaucoma research and clinical advances
During the patient symposium, delegates will have the opportunity to hear from some of Australia’s leading glaucoma specialists about the latest lab based glaucoma research and clinical advances as well as options for improved quality of life.
Dr Hamish Dunn, Chair of the Glaucoma Australia Expert Medical Advisory Panel, stressed the need to identify glaucoma early. “Although vision loss from glaucoma is currently irreversible, there have been significant advances in the science and management of glaucoma in recent years, resulting in an increasing capacity to stop it in its tracks. Finding people with glaucoma before they lose vision remains a significant challenge. We invite all people with glaucoma to bring their relatives, especially their siblings, to this free screening event. This clinic will utilise cutting edge portable technologies to assess your risk of glaucoma.”
The Glaucoma Australia patient symposium and glaucoma risk screening clinic is a free event and will be held on Wednesday 27 March 2019 during the 8th World Glaucoma Congress at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC).
For more information visit www.glaucoma.org.au/events/patient-symposium-2019
