According to statistics, glaucoma happens to afflict an astounding 70 million people from all over the world. Of all the affected people, one-tenth of the people are said to be suffering from bilateral blindness. The most worrying thing is that officials have estimated that the number will rise to a worse 79.6 million by the year 2020.

The figures for India are quite worrisome as health officials have estimated that glaucoma afflicts 12 million people living in India. Apart from that, the number is expected to rise to 16 million by the year 2020.

If one goes by the figures, it can be easily said that one in eight people over the age of 40 in Indian suffer from the condition. It was only recently that the World Glaucoma Week had come to an end, the theme for this year's week was, `Don't lose sight of your family'.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chairman of Narayana Nethralaya, Dr. Bhujang Shetty, informed that glaucoma happens to be the second most common reason behind people suffering blindness. However, if it comes down to irreversible blindness, glaucoma is the biggest cause.

He said, "Glaucoma causes 12.8% of the total blindness in the country. In India, more than 90% of glaucoma in the community is undiagnosed".