Glaucoma is an umbrella term for eye conditions which damage the optic nerve, and which can lead to a loss of vision. According to data collected in 2012, 70,000 cases of glaucoma were registered in Croatia.
Croatia got involved in marking the World Glaucoma Week for the first time in 2008.
Last year, reference ophthalmology centres in 19 Croatian cities enabled optic nerve checks during this worldwide drive.
World Glaucoma Week was launched to contribute to the elimination of glaucoma blindness by alerting people to have regular eye checks, including optic nerve checks. Glaucoma has been called the "silent thief of sight" because the loss of vision often occurs gradually over a long period, and symptoms only occur when the disease is quite advanced. Worldwide, glaucoma is the second-leading cause of blindness after cataracts.