Once lost, your sight never returns
Glaucoma is often referred to as the silent thief of sight. Most people experience no symptoms until late in the disease – the damage occurs slowly and progressively, getting worse over a long period of time.
An estimated 91,000 New Zealanders over the age of 40 currently have glaucoma.
What concerns health professionals is that with early detection, blindness from glaucoma is preventable. A glaucoma eye examination can pick up the disease very early and appropriate treatment can halt its progression and preserve sight.
It is estimated around 50% of New Zealanders with the disease don’t know they have it. With the population ageing, and people living longer, more New Zealanders face the possibility of developing glaucoma. The key message for all New Zealanders revolves around early detection of the disease to prevent blindness. In glaucoma the optic nerve, which carries visual information to the brain, is damaged. Vision loss due to glaucoma cannot be restored. The good news is that with early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, the sneak thief of sight can be arrested. You can save yourself from further sight loss.
Glaucoma NZ recommends having an eye examination for glaucoma every five years from the age of 45 and every three years from the age of 60. However, at any age, if you notice changes in your eyesight, then you should have your eyes examined at that time. In addition if you have risk factors for glaucoma, such as family history, then you may need your eyes checked more frequently.
There is no cure – once sight is lost you can’t get it back. That’s why it’s so important to pick it up early so treatment can stop its progression. If glaucoma is detected, ongoing treatment, and compliance, is vital. Ninety-eight per cent of those who comply with their prescribed treatment for glaucoma will not go blind. That could mean putting in the eye drops every day for the rest of their lives. But it’s a simple thing to do to save precious sight.
❚ Glaucoma NZ is holding a free public meeting at 10am on Saturday, April 29 at the Quality Hotel Plymouth International. Ophthalmologist Dr Kevin Taylor will speak about glaucoma and treatment options. Free admission.