&ldquo;One out of every 11 Indians above 60 lose their eyesight due to glaucoma. Yet, most are unaware of this deadly disease,&rdquo; shares Viji Venkatesh, a glaucoma survivor, who now runs a support group, Eye2Eye, for people affected by the disease.
<img title="Dr Rajul S Parikh (right) will be sharing information on glaucoma at the workshop organised by Eye2Eye" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2015/mar/Dr-Rajul-S-Parikh.jpg" alt="Dr Rajul S Parikh (right) will be sharing information on glaucoma at the workshop organised by Eye2Eye" /> Dr Rajul S Parikh (right) will be sharing information on glaucoma at the workshop organised by Eye2Eye
Often referred to as the Silent Kiss of Night, according to Glaucoma Research Foundation, this is a complicated disease in which damage to the optic nerve leads to progressive, irreversible vision loss. It goes unnoticed mostly, and is the second most common cause of blindness.
<img title="Viji Venkatesh" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2015/mar/Viji-Venkatesh.jpg" alt="Viji Venkatesh" /> Viji Venkatesh
Starting tomorrow, World Glaucoma Week (March 8 to 14) is being observed globally. Venkatesh, with help from her eye surgeon, Dr Rajul S Parikh, has organised a special awareness camp tomorrow. This will include a talk about the disease and steps to prevent it. &ldquo;Most don&rsquo;t pay attention, unless it is very late.
Though there&rsquo;s no cure, if diagnosed early, it can be stopped from spreading. So, with some awareness, one can save themselves and others from permanent blindness,&rdquo; she advises. What is more alarming is the fact that glaucoma is most commonly hereditary, and can affect both adults (usually after they turn 40) as well as newborn children a lesson Venkatesh learnt only after losing vision in her right eye.
&ldquo;I was diagnosed with glaucoma in 2009. I had no idea till I lost vision in my right eye. It&rsquo;s a pity because my mother had it, and despite the fact that I work in the medical field, I had no idea that it is hereditary,&rdquo; shares Venkatesh, adding, &ldquo;So, if someone in your family has the disease, you are likely to get it too,&rdquo; she informs.
Venkatesh, who works as a Leukemia counsellor for Max Foundation, says that the support group will also offer free screenings and conduct workshops on glaucoma. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s no cure for it, but early diagnosis can help prevent permanent blindness. Therefore, I would advise people to go for regular eye check-ups, at least once a year,&rdquo; she reminds.

Mumbai&rsquo;s Viji Venkatesh survived permanent blindness due to glaucoma. She&rsquo;s now made it her mission to create awareness about it, during World Glaucoma Week that falls on March 8-14

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