Glaucoma is the name given to a group of related diseases where the optic nerve is being damaged. The nerve fibres progressively die taking away the peripheral or side vision first. Therefore visual loss goes undetected until it is quite advanced.
Glaucoma is the number one cause of preventable blindness in New Zealand and other developed countries.
Blindness from glaucoma can be prevented by early detection and appropriate treatment.
Glaucoma NZ aims to:
- enhance public awareness about glaucoma
- support and inform people with glaucoma
- educate eye health workers to assure high quality services
- facilitate research into glaucoma