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It is well known that glaucoma is the cause of considerable blindness in Southeast Asia. Glaucoma is associated with specific problems in this region, with the epidemiology and natural history of this disease often differing from that in western countries. In addition, Asian people with glaucoma may have different therapeutic outcomes than their western counterparts. For this reason, the South-East Asian Glaucoma Interest Group (SEAGIG) was established to facilitate contact between glaucoma specialists in the region, to encourage collaborative research and service projects, and to increase the opportunities for exchange of skills and knowledge in this rapidly advancing field.
SEAGIG was founded in 1997 by a group of glaucoma specialists from Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, The Philippines, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and other Asian countries who have come together to attempt to solve some of the problems associated with glaucoma specific to the Southeast Asian region. SEAGIG was formed under the auspices of the Asian-Oceanic Glaucoma Society, with whom it retains strong links.
Last November, SEAGIG, in conjunction with the Thai Glaucoma Society and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists of Thailand, organised their first international conference on Glaucoma: An Asian Theme. This scientific meeting provided a forum for participants from Asian countries to discuss the problems associated with glaucoma from an Asian viewpoint, while leading glaucoma specialists from throughout the world were invited to lend their expertise to the debate. The topics covered ranged from the epidemiology of glaucoma in Asia through vascular pathophysiology and optic neuropathy to current treatment issues and controversies in glaucoma. While the focus was primarily on angle closure glaucoma, open angle glaucoma and normal tension glaucoma were also discussed in detail.
In view of the outstanding success of this conference, Asian Journal of OPHTHALMOLOGY will be dedicating a supplement to the advances in glaucoma management that were presented at the meeting. The supplement will be published with a forthcoming issue of the Journal.
Paul Chew
Editor-in-Chief
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