Glaucoma is a group of diseases that cause degeneration of the optic nerve head, which may lead to vision loss or blindness. The major risk factor for glaucoma is high intraocular pressure. Patients with glaucoma may not notice symptoms until the disease has progressed to a severe stage. The damage caused by this condition is irreversible; therefore, identifying high-risk groups and performing timely screening, as well as regular eye examinations, are crucial for prevention, control, and slowing down permanent vision loss.
Project Coordinator :
Assistant Professor Thanatporn Threetong, MD.
Objectives:
- To educate the general public and healthcare science professionals about the importance of glaucoma, its risk factors, and the significance of screening for early diagnosis, in order to prevent blindness caused by glaucoma.
- To enhance participants’ understanding so that they can further disseminate knowledge to family members, colleagues, and the general public, raising awareness and encouraging timely screening.
Project Implementation:
The project includes activities such as lectures, eye health examinations, and interactive games, organized annually by the Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Burapha University.
- Provide education to patients and their relatives attending the Outpatient Department at Burapha University Hospital through glaucoma educational videos and informational pamphlets.
- Offer glaucoma screening to interested patients and relatives by measuring intraocular pressure.
Impacts:
The Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Burapha University, was approved to conduct the World Glaucoma Week Project for Fiscal Year 2025. The objectives were to educate the general public and healthcare science professionals about glaucoma, its risk factors, and the importance of screening for early diagnosis to prevent glaucoma-related blindness. Additionally, the project aimed to strengthen participants’ understanding so they could share knowledge with family members, colleagues, and the wider community, thereby raising awareness and encouraging timely screening. The program successfully reached its target group, with a total of 69 participants. The event was held over 4 days, from March 10–14, 2025, at the Ophthalmology Department, 3rd Floor, Medical Research Building, Burapha University Hospital.
Date of Implementation: March 10–14, 2025
