American Health Assistance Foundation To Award Millions in Grants in Honor of World Glaucoma Day March 11, 2010

CLARKSBURG, MD.-As World Glaucoma Day is observed the American Health Assistance Foundation (AHAF) will award over one million dollars in grants to scientists worldwide who are on the front lines of glaucoma research. “Glaucoma robs our loved ones of independence and quality of life; it is a devastating and life altering disease. The American Health Assistance Foundation is dedicated to funding the world's most promising research until a cure for glaucoma is found,” said Stacy Pagos Haller, President & CEO of AHAF.

Approximately 66.8 million people throughout the world have glaucoma, with more than 10 percent suffering from blindness. Scientists estimate that half of those affected by glaucoma may not know they have the disease because symptoms may not occur during the early stages of the illness. For this reason it is a leading cause of blindness in the United States and often called “the sneak thief of sight.”

While glaucoma can occur in anyone at any age, at particular risk are people over age 60. African Americans and Hispanics in the United States are also more likely to develop glaucoma with African Americans experiencing glaucoma at a rate five times that of Caucasians. Other potential risk factors are severe nearsightedness, diabetes, eye injury or surgery and high blood pressure.

Although there is no cure for glaucoma there are sight saving treatments, therefore, the sooner a person is diagnosed, the more vision can be preserved. AHAF urges all Americans to schedule regular eye examinations with their doctor.

To date the American Health Assistance Foundation has awarded more than $100 million dollars to further research in an effort to find cures for glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and Alzheimer's disease.

To learn more about glaucoma and glaucoma research visit www.ahaf.org or call 800-437-2423. AHAF offers helpful resources including free publications such as, Living With Glaucoma.

Stay connected to ground breaking glaucoma news and discoveries by following the American Health Assistance on Twitter and Facebook. Go to www2.ahaf.org/socialnetworking to sign up.

World Glaucoma Day is sponsored by the World Glaucoma Association and the World Glaucoma Patient Association.

The American Health Assistance Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding cures for age-related and degenerative diseases by funding research worldwide on glaucoma, macular degeneration and Alzheimer's disease. AHAF also provides the public with free information about these diseases, including risk factors, preventative lifestyles, available treatments and coping strategies.