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Looking back in amazement
Scott Christensen, Ivan Goldberg, George Lambrou,Beverley Lindsell, Robert Ritch, Kuldev Singh and Remo Susanna
The first-ever glaucoma day is over. This global effort to mobilize glaucoma stakeholders - eye-care professionals, glaucoma patients or their families - around the common goal of 'Raising Glaucoma Awareness' succeeded beyond all expectations, and inspired education, reflection and awareness.
The first - and most important, in our eyes - measure of success is in the numbers: volunteers from over 200 locations in more than 50 countries informed us of their plans to organize over 600 events worldwide. These events were organized without financial support, during the spare time (and frequently at the expenses) of the organizers: it makes no doubt that the will to tackle the glaucoma pandemic is real and widespread.
The second, much more visible measure of success is the official recognition: several governing authorities acknowledged the urgency and significance of the effort, by officially proclaiming the Day (e.g., the White House and the Mayor of New York), or by recognizing it officially (e.g., the Federal Government of Canada). Others have honored the Day through the presence of Ministers and other high-ranking personalities in various events.
These are amazing achievements for a zero-base, zero-budget initiative that sprang from the will and enthusiasm of a handful of people, and that sparked responses from all the expected but, more often than not, the unexpected parts of the world. The warmth and multitude of these responses make us confident that next year, building on this first experience, we will be able to bring World Glaucoma Day to new heights.
See also: http://www.wgday.org