In Bangladesh, an invisible menace stalks the eyes of 20 lakh people: glaucoma, a disease that can steal sight forever. Eye specialists warn it’s a growing crisis, particularly for those over 40, and are urging greater awareness to combat its stealthy advance.

This call rang out on Saturday, March 15, at a World Glaucoma Week event hosted by the Bangladesh Glaucoma Society and Aristovision at Sobhanbagh in Dhaka.

“Just as blood pressure sustains the body, eye pressure sustains vision,” an expert explained. A healthy eye maintains 10 to 21 millimetres of mercury; above 21, pressure builds, squeezing the optic nerve. “The more it’s damaged, the dimmer sight becomes—until blindness sets in,” he said. “That’s glaucoma.”

A day of action and awareness

The day buzzed with purpose at Harun Eye Foundation Hospital in Dhanmondi, the Glaucoma Society’s hub. At 10am, Professor Dr Md Shahabuddin, President of the Bangladesh Eye Surgeons Association, launched a vibrant rally. A free screening camp followed, serving patients until 1 p.m., while a discussion and press conference amplified the message: glaucoma can be caught, if not cured, with early vigilance.

Professor Dr Zakia Sultana Shaheed, Glaucoma Society President, chaired the event and rallied the media: “Help us wake the public to this threat. It takes all of us to stop it.”

Managing Director of Harun Eye Foundation, Professor Dr Sheikh MA Mannaf, unpacked the disease’s mechanics, while Dr Juella Nasrin, the foundation’s chairman, closed with a plea for collective action.

Dr Md Jinnurain (Newton), Secretary General of the Bangladesh Ophthalmologists’ Association, detailed glaucoma’s severity and treatments. Professors M Nazrul Islam, Md Mizanur Rahman, Md Arif Mia, M Ziaul Karim, and Hasan Shaheed enriched the dialogue, spotlighting its many facets.

A nationwide push

Professor Dr Siddiqur Rahman, Glaucoma Society Secretary General, showcased their week-long blitz: “We’ve held meetings and symposiums in 70 institutions—government and private—across the country.” He broke down glaucoma’s stealth—often symptomless until vision fades—and stressed screening’s power to save sight.

A race against darkness

With two million at risk, Bangladesh faces a quiet epidemic. Saturday’s events weren’t just a commemoration—they were a clarion call. As rallies marched and experts spoke, the message was clear: awareness today could keep the lights on tomorrow.