With three to five per cent of Indians at risk of Glaucoma and 90 per cent of them yet to be diagnosed, city-based The Eye Foundation is organising a Glaucoma Week from March 13 to spread an awareness on the need of early eye check up.

“Approximately, 11.2 million Indians – 6.48 open angle and 2.54 angle closure – above the age of 40 years are likely to be inflicted with this disease amounting to 12.8 per cent of blindness in India,” Foundation Medical Director, Dr. Chitra Ramamurthy told reporters here today.

Quoting various population-based studies by experts in the field in Tamil Nadu, she said that the prevalence of this disease was two to 13 per cent, and Glaucoma now stood as a third leading cause of preventable blindness.

The disease, drying up of fluid in the eye and increasing the pressure, by its natural course, is slow and progressive and demands frequent follow up, Consultant Glaucoma and Pediatric, Dr. R. Muralidhar said.

To commemorate the Glaucoma week from March 13 to 18, free evaluation for glaucoma for all will be offered during the entire week at the Foundation, Chitra said.

Patients will also be given free anti-glaucoma medication in the week, depending on the availability, and those requiring further investigation, treatment and surgery are being offered at a concessional rate during the period, she said.