HONG KONG, June 30: More than 8.4 million people in Asia will turn blind from glaucoma by 2010 if they do not undergo timely treatment, a region-wide survey released on Monday showed.

Glaucoma, irreversible damage on the optic nerve caused by high pressure within the eyeball, was the world’s second leading cause of blindness after cataract, according to data released by All Eyes on Glaucoma, a global education campaign.

High blood pressure, family history and a prevalence of the disease among Asians were among the risk factors contributing to the predicted high figure, the group said. “Whereas cataract can be cured by surgery, glaucoma can lead to irreversible loss of eyesight and is the single largest cause of preventable blindness in Asia,” said Ivan Goldberg, president of World Glaucoma Association, at a press conference.

The survey, which interviewed 935 people from nine Asian countries including China and India, was a response to a low level of awareness.

Asians are more prone to glaucoma because their eyes are generally smaller than westerners, leading to higher pressure within the eyeball, said Clement Tham, professor of ophthalmology at University of Hong Kong.—AFP