SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of National Glaucoma Awareness Month, Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF) will commemorate its 30th Anniversary with a gala benefit at the Westin St. Francis Hotel Tower in San Francisco, Jan. 23, 2008. The annual event, "Speeding the Cure. Spreading the Word." serves as the showcase for recent advances in GRF-funded research.

Glaucoma is the leading cause of preventable blindness. With an aging population, millions worldwide risk blindness from glaucoma if nothing is done. "Everyone is vulnerable to this silent thief of sight, but typically less than half are aware of the threat. Early detection and treatment is the only way to prevent further vision loss," says Thomas M. Brunner, GRF president and CEO. At highest risk are African Americans (where the disease strikes earlier and progresses more aggressively), Hispanics/Latinos, Asians, anyone over the age of 60, and everyone with a family history of glaucoma.

A national foundation established in 1978 in San Francisco by Dr. Robert M. Shaffer (1912-2007), Dr. H. Dunbar Hoskins Jr. and Dr. John Hetherington, GRF is the nation's leading funder of innovative glaucoma research, outside of government, academia and the corporate sector. GRF is the definitive source for glaucoma information, distributing educational print materials on request and serving 500,000 unique visitors each year at http://www.glaucoma.org.

The Gala begins at 5 p.m. with a scientific overview of recent research advances presented by the four principal investigators of GRF's Catalyst for a Cure consortium. A reception follows at 6 p.m. and dinner commences at 7 p.m.

Individual Gala tickets are $300, with tables available at $25,000, $15,000, $10,000 and $6,000. For information or to receive an invitation, please contact Craig Palmer, 415.986.3162 or cpalmer@glaucoma.org.

About the Glaucoma Research Foundation

The Glaucoma Research Foundation is the oldest national foundation working to prevent vision loss from glaucoma by investing in innovative research, education and support with the ultimate goal of finding a cure.

Source: Glaucoma Research Foundation