Our History And Accomplishments
Many people are unaware that children can have glaucoma. It is a rare disease, occurring in approximately 1 in 10,000 children worldwide, yet it is a leading cause of blindness in children. Blindness from childhood glaucoma is preventable with prompt treatment. Sadly, many children do lose vision because of delayed diagnosis or because their families lack the financial means to access specialized care.
The GL Foundation for Children with Glaucoma is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is unique among glaucoma organizations in our singular focus on childhood glaucoma, and our dual focus on providing direct assistance to families, and collaborative support for eye care professionals. Because of the complexities of childhood glaucoma, we believe patients and their families, as well as physicians and health care professionals need access to the most effective care and treatment information available.
The GLF was first established in 1998 when Mr. Carlos Lyra encouraged his eye doctor, Dr. Alana Grajewski, to start a foundation so she could pursue her passion for helping the families of her patients with pediatric glaucoma. Both were motivated to help children gain immediate access to specialized eye care, and provide resources for healthcare providers to ensure prompt diagnosis and successful treatment of childhood glaucoma. Now in its 13th year, the GL Foundation has made a real difference in helping to save sight in children. Through our programs, we have:
- Assisted hundreds of parents in getting prompt access to specialized care; many children have sight today because they were properly diagnosed & promptly treated.
- Hosted educational programs for primary doctors on diagnosis and treatment.
- Equipped clinics in Europe, Central America, and South America with instruments and training necessary to provide specialized eye care.
- Successfully started the Childhood Glaucoma Network, a collaborative network of physicians who joined together to improve care & accelerate research.
- Created "i-SITE", an online resource center that provides Support, Information, Tools, and Education for parents of children with glaucoma expected launch 02/12
- Been recognized by the IRS with a 4 star rating for program efficiency.
Given our present economy and the gaps in our healthcare system, the need and mission of the GLF are more important today than ever. We continue to evolve and introduce new resources, & remain committed to our vision of a future that eliminates preventable blindness in children.
