Over the years, Yan Hua, a famous ophthalmologist in China and president of Tianjin Medical University, has been leading his team in research into glaucoma prevention and control.

The team also carries out extensive publicity and education work on this subject, as well as giving frequent physician training sessions. These measures have boosted the development of glaucoma prevention and control work in China.

Glaucoma is a leading irreversible cause of blindness. It causes optic nerve damage and visual field defects due to pathological elevated intraocular pressure.

It can come on suddenly and without feeling, sometimes developing from imperceptible visual field defects.

Since 2000, epidemiological investigations of glaucoma conducted in China have shown that the total prevalence of glaucoma in people over 40 years old is between 1.5 percent and 3.6 percent.

Since glaucoma's damage to the optic nerve and visual field cannot be reversed, early detection, diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma are very important. Efforts like Yan is making in communities to offer extensive checks are very meaningful and effective in terms of the prevention and treatment of this eye disease.