Half of Glaucoma in Melbourne is undiagnosed

27 December 2007

Around 300,000 Australians have been diagnosed with Glaucoma but 50 per cent of cases are currently undiagnosed.

Today, March 6 marks the first annual World Glaucoma Day; a joint venture of the World Glaucoma Association and the World Glaucoma Patient Association.

Glaucoma is a progressive disease causing irreversible vision loss, usually without warning until the disease is well advanced –this has earned the disease the nickname “the sneak thief of sight”.

Glaucoma destroys the cells that connect the eye through the optic nerve to the brain. As the optic nerve becomes increasingly damaged, permanent vision damage and even blindness can follow.

Glaucoma can happen at any age, but as the Australia’s population becomes older, the number of glaucoma patients is increasing.

Professor Clark was told he was mad thinking he could make a deaf person hear again, but he was determined to make the impossible, possible.

But this doesn’t have to be the case.

Professor of Glaucoma at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Professor Jonathan Crowston said everyone over the age of 40 should have their eyes checked every two years with their optometrists or ophthalmologist.

“This is even more important if someone in your family has glaucoma. Don’t turn a blind eye to Glaucoma. If you have your eyes checked regularly and the disease is detected before there are symptoms, then you can take precautions to prevent vision loss”

“It’s low awareness of the disease that increases the risk of late diagnosis and vision loss. Visual disability from glaucoma is potentially avoidable with early detection with regular eye checks.”

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