World Glaucoma Week 9-15 March
Believe it or not, you may already have glaucoma and not know it. In fact, around half of all people with glaucoma are unaware they have the condition. Glaucoma usually causes no pain or discomfort, and vision loss occurs slowly from the outside in, affecting side vision first. Because of this gradual change, many people do not notice a problem in the early stages. By the time people realise something is wrong, significant vision loss has often already occurred.
Unfortunately, any vision lost to glaucoma cannot be recovered, and if left untreated the disease can eventually lead to blindness.
Who Is at Risk?
Around 1 in 50 Australians will develop glaucoma, but you are up to 10 times more likely to develop it if you have a close relative with the condition. Other risk factors include:age over 50, diabetes, migraines, high or low blood pressure, a strong glasses prescription (particularly for short-sightedness).
Treatment
While treatment cannot cure glaucoma or restore vision that has already been lost, it can significantly slow the progression of the disease. For this reason, early detection and treatment are critical to protecting your sight. Treatment is mainly aimed at reducing the pressure inside the eye. This is most commonly done using prescription eye drops, but laser treatment or surgery may sometimes be recommended.
How Is Glaucoma Detected?
Everyone over the age of 40 should have a comprehensive eye examination at least every two years to screen for glaucoma, particularly if you have risk factors for the disease.
At Hansen Optometrists we use advanced technology to help detect glaucoma at its earliest stages, including:
• Visual field testing to detect subtle changes in your side vision
• OCT scanning to measure microscopic retinal nerve fibre changes
• Digital retinal imaging to monitor the appearance of the optic nerve over time
The best way to protect your sight from glaucoma is with regular comprehensive eye examinations. For more information visit: www.hansenoptom.com.au. www.glaucoma.org.au