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Mar 13, 2014 / 13:40

A meeting launched to raise people's awareness of glaucoma

​Up to 94 percent of people receiving eye check-ups are unaware of the effects of glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness, heard a meeting held in Hanoi on March 11 to mark the World Glaucoma Week.

Doctors of the National Institute of Ophthalmology reported that many patients are hospitalised only when their disease has entered the final stages, causing poor eyesight and a high risk of blindness.
 
Deputy Director of the National Institute of Ophthalmology Cung Hong Sơn made a speech at the meeting
Deputy Director of the National Institute of Ophthalmology Cung Hong Son made a speech at the meeting
Meanwhile, up to 43 percent of patients experience particularly bad symptom because they do not follow doctors’ advice on treating the condition. 

Experts have warned people to take more frequent check-ups to detect the disease quickly, as glaucoma is hereditary, incurable and must be treated as soon as possible. 

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of irrecoverable blindness in the world after cataracts. Forecasts say there will be around 80 million glaucoma patients in the world by 2020, accounting for 2.86 percent of the population over the age of 40. 

On the occasion of the World Glaucoma Week, the National Institute of Ophthalmology has been providing free check-ups and consultations for glaucoma patients.