RNIB Cymru Press Release
Embargoed until: 00.01, 12 March 2009
Background
RNIB Cymru is today, World Glaucoma Day, warning of the dangers of untreated Glaucoma, a condition that without treatment causes blindness.
World Glaucoma Day also sees the first meeting of the new Wales Glaucoma Alliance - bringing together experts from across the eye care sector in Wales to ensure that the risk of blindness is reduced for the 30,000 people who have Glaucoma in Wales.
Glaucoma is one of the most common causes of preventable sight loss in Wales Usually simple to treat, it has no symptoms in its early stages, which means you could lose up to 40 per cent of your sight before you notice a problem. Glaucoma causes the gradual loss of peripheral vision (creating so-called tunnel vision), however because the brain initially compensates for these lost images, many people remain unaware that they have the condition. Once diagnosed, treatment simply involves regular use of eye drops, so that further sight loss should be minimised.
Comment
Christine Brooks-Dowsett, 59, from Penarth: "I was diagnosed with Glaucoma two years ago, and take drops each day to keep it under control. I hadn't noticed any change, but went for a routine eye check up. I was very worried to begin with - they said I could have lost my sight. I now tell friends and family to have their eyes checked often. It's just not worth risking your sight; I'm one of the lucky ones, as it was diagnosed early."
James Morgan, Consultant Ophthalmologist, and Advisor to the International Glaucoma Association said: "We hope the Wales Glaucoma Alliance can shape a positive future for Glaucoma treatment in Wales. Glaucoma is a very treatable condition, and we hope that by pooling the expertise from the sight loss sector in Wales, we can make an impact to prevent more people losing their sight."
Sarah Rochira, Director of RNIB Cymru said: "Your eyesight might seem fine, but that doesn't necessarily mean your eyes are healthy. Glaucoma has no symptoms in the early stages and can only be picked up through an eye health check - yet many of us don't have regular check-ups. An eye test isn't just about getting glasses - think of it as an MOT for your eyes that could end up saving your sight!"
Further information
You are particularly at risk of developing glaucoma if:
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you are aged over 40
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you have a close relative with glaucoma
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you are of African or Caribbean origin
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you are short sighted
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you have diabetes.
The Welsh Assembly Government has introduced a special, free Welsh Eye Health Examination (WEHE) for selected categories of patients who may be at-risk of certain eye diseases and live in Wales, including Africans and African-Caribbeans. The Welsh Eye Health Examination is carried out by optometrists (ophthalmic opticians). An optometrist who is registered with the scheme will give a thorough eye check to identify any signs of disease. It is different from the routine sight test for glasses as the Welsh Eye Health Examination focuses particularly on the health of your eye. Please visit www.eyecarewales.nhs.uk for further information.
Additional facts on Glaucoma:
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Glaucoma affects two per cent of the population over the age of 40
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Half of those who have glaucoma are unaware of their condition
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95 per cent of the sensory input to the brain required for driving comes from vision
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Glaucoma accounts for 13-14 per cent of people registered blind in England and Wales
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Glaucoma can be treated effectively and further visual loss prevented in most cases. Treatment will usually be with eye drops, but may include laser or surgery if necessary
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Early detection is the key to the control of visual loss in glaucoma
What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma is the name for a group of eye conditions in which the optic nerve is damaged at the point where it leaves the eye. This nerve carries information from the light sensitive layer in your eye, the retina, to the brain where it is perceived as a picture.
Your eye needs a certain amount of pressure to keep the eyeball in shape so that it can work properly. In some people, the glaucoma damage is caused by raised eye pressure. Others may have an eye pressure within normal limits but damage occurs because there is a weakness in the optic nerve. In most cases, both factors of high pressure and weakness in the optic nerve are involved, but to a varying extent.
Eye pressure is largely independent of blood pressure
Are some people more at risk of chronic glaucoma?
Yes. There are several factors which increase the risk.
Age
Chronic glaucoma becomes much more common with increasing age. It is uncommon below the age of 40 but affects one per cent of people over this age and five per cent over 65.
Race
If you are of African origin you are more at risk of chronic glaucoma and it may come on somewhat earlier and be more severe. So make sure that you have regular tests.
Family
If you have a close relative who has chronic glaucoma then you should have an eye test at regular intervals. You should advise other members of your family to do the same. This is especially important if you are aged over 40 when tests should be done every year.
Short sight
People with a high degree of short sight are more prone to chronic glaucoma. Diabetes is believed to increase the risk of developing this condition.
Please note: People over the age of 40 years with an immediate family member diagnosed with glaucoma - parents, children or siblings - are entitled to a free sight test every year under the NHS.
Further information about glaucoma