People with the eye condition, glaucoma, need to remind their blood relatives to be tested for it regularly, as they are at a significantly increased risk of developing it, the National Council of the Blind (NCBI) has warned.

Glaucoma is not a single disorder, but is the name given to a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve. This can result in serious vision loss over time. Since this vision loss is permanent, glaucoma needs to be diagnosed and appropriately treated as early as possible to prevent further damage to vision.

It is predicted that up to 80 million people worldwide will be affected by the condition by 2020.

The NCBI made its call for greater awareness of glaucoma to coincide with World Glaucoma Week, which runs until March 12. The council noted that studies have shown that glaucoma is becoming increasingly common among older people and with the number of people aged over 65 in Ireland predicted to increase by almost two-fifths by 2016, and to treble by 2041, it is vital that cases are caught early.

World Glaucoma Week aims to highlight the importance of regular eye exams and the growing impact of glaucoma on families and society. This year's theme is ‘Don't lose sight of your family'.

"It is important that patients under treatment remind their blood relatives to be tested for glaucoma regularly as they have an increased risk of developing it themselves. If a parent has glaucoma, the risk of developing glaucoma is increased five times. If a sibling has it, the risk is increased nine fold," the NCBI explained.

However, the Irish College of Ophthalmologists emphasised that glaucoma is a major cause of preventable blindness.

"With early detection and the correct treatment, the risk of losing your sight is low. Protect yourself and have your eye pressure and optic nerve checked every two years if over the age of 40 and an early referral to an eye doctor if there is any suspicion of glaucoma," the college said.

Meanwhile, according to NCBI chief executive, Des Kenny, the council ‘continues to see a steady number of people being referred to our services every year as a result of glaucoma'.

"It is vital that we encourage people to take care of their eyesight by having regular eye exams, especially as our population is ageing and many eye conditions are more prevalent among older populations. If more people are diagnosed at an early stage and can receive treatment, we hope to see a decrease in the number of people facing reduced vision as a result of glaucoma," he explained.

World Glaucoma Week is a joint initiative by the World Glaucoma Association (WGA) and World Glaucoma Patient Association (WGPA). The NCBI has partnered with the Association of Optometrists Ireland, the Irish College of Ophthalmologists and Pfizer Healthcare Ireland to raise greater awareness of glaucoma during World Glaucoma Week.