This week is World Glaucoma Week (6–12 March 2022) and Glaucoma Australia has launched its first 7 Sights in 7 Days Challenge encouraging Australians to share a photo of an amazing sight every day for seven days to raise funds to help end glaucoma blindness.
The 7 Sights in 7 Days Challenge, part of Glaucoma Australia’s annual Treat Your Eyes campaign, is asking Australians to capture everyday moments to remind them sight is precious while raising funds for early detection programs and critical support services.
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide.
The disease affects 300,000 Australians, with 50 per cent unaware that they have the disease because they haven’t had a comprehensive eye examination.
There is no cure for glaucoma and vision loss is irreversible, making early detection and treatment key to saving sight.
Glaucoma Australia Chief Executive Officer Annie Gibbins said anyone could develop glaucoma and the risk increased with age.
“About one in 10,000 babies are born with glaucoma; by age 40 about one in 200 have glaucoma, rising to one in eight at age 80,” she said.
“Sight is incredibly precious and all too often, it’s something people don’t think about until something goes wrong.
“But Australians have the power to save their sight by getting their eyes tested and raising funds for ground-breaking research, education and support programs.
“The Treat Your Eyes campaign began as an awareness initiative highlighting the importance of getting an eye check to identify the early signs of glaucoma.
“The inaugural 7 Sights in 7 Days Challenge is amplifying that sight-saving message by asking the community to get creative and fundraise so that we can take glaucoma out of the picture.”
