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Living Well

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Around half the people with glaucoma don’t realise they have it until too late. Here’s the lowdown, so you don’t find yourself blindsided by this eye disease.

WHAT IS GLAUCOMA?

Glaucoma is the name given to a group of eye diseases where vision is lost due to damage to the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain. It affects around two per cent of the population. There are different types of glaucoma but primary openangle glaucoma (POAG) is the most common, accounting for 90 per cent of cases.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

In the early stages of

POAG there are no obvious symptoms. Vision loss is gradual, and your peripheral vision is the first to be affected, however it often goes unnoticed until a significan­t amount of damage to the optic nerve has already occurred.

AM I HIGH RISK?

Anyone can develop glaucoma, however there are certain factors that can put you at a higher risk. These include: if you have a family history of the disease, have high eye pressure, are over 50, are short or long sighted, have diabetes, or if you experience migraines.

HOW IS GLAUCOMA TREATED?

There is no cure for glaucoma, but it is possible to successful­ly manage the condition. Eye drops, laser and surgery (or a combinatio­n of all three) are treatments for managing glaucoma. Early detection is the best way to avoid damage, so ensure you have regular eye tests (every two years is recommende­d).

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