Documentary on the band's musical journey for glaucoma launched KATHMANDU: In December 2014, a musical journey was embarked to raise money for treatment of glaucoma in children and those who could not afford it, and to spread awareness on the eye disease. The 30-year-old Darjeeling-based band Rusty Nails — that performs blues, jazz and rock numbers in English and Nepali — had taken the year-long initiative where they performed in various venues in Kathmandu Valley and raised a good amount. Covering their journey and the objective behind it, the band in association with Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology (TIO) has made a short documentary Rusty Nails for Glaucoma to make people aware about glaucoma, which premiered on August 19 at 25 Hours Club, Tangal. “Glaucoma is a very dangerous eye disease. If it is not treated timely, one can lose their vision. It is an expensive treatment,” founder member of the band Viku Chhetri shared. “Doctor Suman (Thapa) wanted to do something for this disease. Then we decided to raise money through musical charity shows for children and those who can’t afford the treatment.” As per Prof Dr Suman S Thapa, Deputy Director of TIO who is a guest member of Rusty Nails, “Glaucoma is a group of diseases which slowly damages the optic nerves at the back of the eye leading to blindness. It is an irreversible disease like high blood pressure where you need to take medicine your whole life once one is afflicted.” For this disease, “we were able to collect Rs 22 lakhs from five concerts we did in one year. The money will be used to treat glaucoma in needy children”. The band performed one concert every two months while one concert couldn’t take place due to the Gorkha quake in 2015. Pop singer Nima Rumba, veteran English eye surgeon and singer Brendan Moriarty and rock band 1974 AD were also a part of their charity concerts, captured in the documentary. Moreover, the documentary highlighted the disease through patients, artistes and activists. Seventy per cent of glaucoma cases seen in patients is without symptoms, as per Dr Thapa and glaucoma patient Yagya Bahadur Pradhan shared a similar experience in the documentary. He was quoted as saying, “I was diagnosed 30 years ago. Since then I’m on medication. It can be diagnosed only when one consults a doctor.”  After the documentary screening, Rusty Nails performed at the event.