Across Poland, as part of World Glaucoma Week, a campaign of free screening tests is underway. The initiative includes, among others, Kraków, where screenings are conducted by the ophthalmology hospital as part of the "Healthy Vision" project, and the Podlaskie Voivodeship, where free consultations with online booking options are offered by ophthalmology clinics in Białystok and surrounding areas. The campaign aims at early detection of glaucoma, which develops insidiously, often without clear symptoms, and can lead to irreversible vision loss.
Nationwide Preventive Campaign
Free glaucoma screening tests are being organized as part of the world week dedicated to this condition. The campaign covers many cities, including Kraków and Białystok, and its goal is to reach the broadest possible group of people, especially those over 40 and in high-risk groups.
Screenings in Kraków and Podlasie
In Kraków, screenings are conducted by the ophthalmology hospital as part of the "Healthy Vision" project. In Podlasie, the campaign includes ophthalmology clinics in Białystok and surrounding areas, offering the possibility of online booking. This suggests a decentralized, local model of organizing the campaign in different regions of the country.
Early Detection is Crucial
Glaucoma often develops asymptomatically in early stages, leading to slow and irreversible damage to the optic nerve. Free tests, such as intraocular pressure measurement and fundus examination, are crucial for early diagnosis and starting treatment, which can save eyesight.
As part of World Glaucoma Week, a campaign of free screening tests is underway in many regions of Poland. The goal is early detection of glaucoma, an insidious disease that is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness. In Kraków, the screenings are organized by the local ophthalmology hospital as part of the "Healthy Vision" project. In Podlasie, free consultations are available at ophthalmology clinics in Białystok and neighboring towns, with the possibility of online registration. World Glaucoma Week is a global educational and preventive initiative organized annually by the World Glaucoma Association and ophthalmological societies. Its goal is to raise awareness about the disease, which affects over 70 million people worldwide, and remains undiagnosed in half of them. In Poland, it is estimated that up to 800,000 people suffer from glaucoma. The campaign is primarily aimed at people over 40 years of age, whose risk of developing the disease increases, and at individuals in high-risk groups. This group includes, among others, people with a family history, those suffering from myopia, low blood pressure, or having elevated intraocular pressure. Preventive examinations are short and non-invasive, typically including measurement of intraocular pressure and assessment of the optic nerve head. Organizers emphasize that early diagnosis of the disease allows for the implementation of effective treatment, which can halt its progression and protect the patient from vision loss.