Welcome to Glaucoma New Zealand

Glaucoma NZ is a charitable trust to eliminate blindness from glaucoma. Glaucoma is the number one preventable cause of blindness in New Zealand. Blindness from glaucoma can be prevented by early detection and appropriate treatment.

Glaucoma NZ aims to:

Enhance public awareness about glaucoma
Support and inform people with glaucoma
Educate eye health workers to assure high quality services
Facilitate research into glaucoma

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is the name given to a group of related diseases where the optic nerve is being damaged. The nerve fibres progressively die taking away the peripheral or side vision first. Therefore visual loss goes undetected until it is quite advanced. Read more...

Our Key Message

Glaucoma NZ's key message for all New Zealanders is that early detection of glaucoma is vital when it comes to preventing blindness.

That means an eye examination for glaucoma every five years from the age of 45 and every three years from the age of 60. However, at any age, if you notice changes in your eyesight, then you should have your eyes examined at that time. For example, if you require hobby glasses, it is a good idea to have your eyes checked by an eye health professional, just in case there is an underlying problem. In addition if you have risk factors for glaucoma, such as family history, then you may need your eyes checked more frequently.

It is really important for people to know if glaucoma runs in their family, because if it does, your risk increases substantially. You are also at higher risk of getting glaucoma if you are 60 years and over, are short sighted, have a past or present use of steroid drugs, or previous eye injury.

Glaucoma Professional Education Programme 2018

The 2018 Glaucoma Professional Education Programme for New Zealand optometrists, nurses, orthoptists, ophthalmic technicians and other eye health professionals is now closed. Registered participants may check their results until the end of November.