"Glaucoma" Identified As The Major Cause Of Blindness In Sri Lanka

Out of the total number of Blind Population  in Sri Lanka 13 to 14 percent got blinded due to the eye disorder "Glaucoma" according to the Ophthalmologist Dr.Mrs.Muditha Kulatunga.The age group of Over 60 years  in Sri Lanka is more prone  of getting Glaucoma which has been described as  the "Silent Thief of Sight" due to the sudden blindness it caused  Dr.Kulatunga has stressed.

To avoid of getting the disease the age group of over 60 years should under go a Eye Test in every six months and the people of less then 60 years should under go a Eye Test at least once in every two years she has further added.According to Dr.Kulatunga if parents are having the Glaucoma the chance of their children getting the disease is 5 times higher then a normal person and those people whose blood relatives having Glaucoma are having 9 times higher chance  of getting the disease.

Speaking at  a Media Seminar held in Colombo this morning on "The International  Glaucoma Week" declared between 06th of March to 12th of March 2011, Dr,Kulatunga has said to mark the International Glaucoma Week"Colombo National Eye Hospital is launched a series of programmes to educate the people throught the Island on Glaucoma in collaboration with vision 2020 secretariat and the Sight Savers International ..A free eye testing camp for public is due to  be held in the Eye Hospital On  12th of March ,the final day of the Glaucoma week.

According to the statistics around 5 million people world wide are currently living with blindness due to the Glaucoma and this number is expected to rise by the year 2020 to 11.2 million.