THE International Glaucoma Association will be holding its annual awareness week from Monday, June 10.

The For Relief of Glaucoma, or Frog, week aims to encourage everyone to go for regular eye check ups to prevent the onset of the blinding disease.

Chief executive of the International Glaucoma Association, David Wright, said: "Regular eye checks are the first step to preventing this life-changing tragedy.

"With improved detection and treatments, more than 95 per cent of glaucoma sufferers will retain useful sight

throughout their lives. Unfortunately, once vision is lost to glaucoma it cannot be regained."

The most common form of glaucoma has no warning symptoms and gradually reduces peripheral vision. It is the leading cause of preventable blindness in the UK.

Member of the Glaucoma Association, Leslie Green, of Clarendon Road, Trowbridge, said: "Having followed in my fathers'

footsteps in respect of developing glaucoma in both eyes, hopefully I will not

go blind as he did as my problem was discovered some 15 years ago.

"Now my children are having an annual check up for obvious reasons. Glaucoma is a dreadful disease and it is in everyone's interests that awareness of it becomes more widespread.."

For information about glaucoma, contact the International Glaucoma Association on 0207 737 3265.