Glaucoma is a serious condition that leads to a lack of vision by destroying the nerve of the eye. The symptoms are few and sometimes there are none to be felt at all. When it then emerges that something is wrong it is already too late. The World Health Organisation has marked today, the 12th of March, as International Glaucoma Day, to help raise awareness of this serious disease of the eyes.

In Malta this problem has now been addressed with a programme of screening for glaucoma. This was done after Malta held the first local scientific study of this disease in the early 1990’s. This study showed that in Malta the percentage of people who potentially could develop glaucoma is three percent of the population above the age of 40. This means that for the Maltese people where life expectancy is now on the rise, then the number of people who may develop this condition will continue to grow.

Screening for glaucoma started 14 years ago in Health Centres, forming part of the Department of Primary Care. At present there are six centres that are offering this service, with a new center opened last year in Birkirkara. During 2009 over 4600 people used this screening service.

In 2009 a support group for patients suffering with Glaucoma was started, this group is now working to establish a statute for the association to enable it to be registered locally. It is hoped that this would be an aid for patients in support and help them to understand that, firstly they are not alone and secondly, that it is a forum for assistance in teaching and education to enable earlier treatment.

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