Sight abnormalities and blindness still become a health problem in Indonesia. Senses Health Survey, 1993 – 1996 showed that 1.5% Indonesian population had blindness caused by cataract (52%), glaucoma (13.4%), refraction abnormalities (9.5%), retina abnormalities (8.5%), cornea abnormalities (8.4%), and other eyes abnormalities.

It was speech by Minister of Health read by the head of Health Research and Development, dr. Agus Purwadianto when opening seminar in celebrating a world Glaucoma Week, 2010 in Ministry of Health office, today.

To control the blindness, Ministry of Health has developed some strategies which waswritten on Ministry of Health Decree no. 1473/MENKES/SK/2005 about National Strategy Plan of Blindness and Sight Abnormalities Control (Renstranas PGPK) to reach 2020 Vision.

One of strategies in Renstranas PGPK) is strength of advocation, communication, and socialization in all sectors to control abnormalities of sight and blindness. This socialization effort was applied to increase people knowledge and awareness about the important of keeping sight health. Advocation effort was applied to get support from all sectors for sight abnormalities control effort.

In addition, Ministry of Health has done some early detection effort and the control of sight abnormalities to any community group, start from baby, underfive, school age until elderly people, especially towards the main caused of blindness such as cataract, refraction abnormalities, glaucoma, and xeroftalmia.

According to Ministry of Health, service of sight sense which is developed by Institution of Community Eyes Health (BKMM) and government hospital has not able to solve people health problem on their own. It needs a corporation with local and Foreign LSM (Non Governmental Community) for any activities : promotive, preventive, and rehabilitative to community.

Furthermore, it is said that Glaucoma is the second most caused of the blindness after cataract whether in Indonesia or in Indonesia. Number of glaucoma cases will be added along with life expectancy age. 
Result of Local Health Research 2007 showed blindness rate was 0.9%. With the high rat e was in South Sulawesi (2.6%) and the lowest was East Kalimantan (0.3%).

While result of Eyes Health and Blindness Survey in West Java in 2005 showed that glaucoma prevalency for age group up to 40 years old was 1.2% and blindness prevalency caused of glaucoma was 0.1% from blindness total was 4.0%.

According to Minister of Health, blindness in caused of glaucoma actually can be prevented by early detection and aright control so that it will not continue and become a permanent blindness. Glaucoma early detection especially for those who are 40 years old above can be done through elderly age group in sub health center, examination I health center, hospital, and other health service. Therefore, it need a corporation and support from Profession Organization, Sector across, private and people participation, said by Minister of Health.

A world of glaucoma organization declared a World Glaucoma Day on March 6, 2008. All people in the world are asked to do activities that have aimed to improve people awareness about glaucoma with hope that it can help people who have a risk factor to do a regular eyes health examination. The world Glaucoma day then celebrated every March 12.

This year, we celebrated the third a world Glaucoma Day and it still continue so that it called World Glaucoma Week. To celebrate it, Perdami Profession Organization cooperated with Ministry of Health conducted eyes examination especially glaucoma early detection and seminar for counseling for employee in Ministry of Health.

The seminar was attended by Echelon I and II officials, The Representative of Indonesia Eyes Specialist United (Perdami), LSM (Non government Community) and other invitation. The seminar which was attended by 150 participants, discussed about Eyes Examination Anatomy by dr. Syukri Mustafa, Sp.M, What is glaucoma and How to control it by Prof. dr. Edi S. Affandi, Sp.M and testimony by Glaucoma patient.

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