Wednesday, January 31, 2001

Glaucoma awareness extra important

Lack of symptoms makes detection a challenge

With lost eyesight from glaucoma directly affecting quality of life, the president of Prevent Blindness Georgia said health care providers should take a more active role in encouraging their patients to get regular dilated eye exams.

"Regular dilated eye exams should be made a routine part of health maintenance," said Jenny Pomeroy. "Glaucoma has no early warning signs of possible vision loss. So, by the time people realize they are losing vision, the vision they have already lost is gone forever. That is why those at risk for glaucoma need to get regular dilated eye examinations to help detect this blinding eye disease."

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month, and Prevent Blindness Georgia, along with the National Eye Institute and 32 other organizations, are highlighting the importance of good vision and eye care.

Pomeroy said a dilated eye exam, in which drops are placed in the eye to dilate the pupils, is the best way to detect glaucoma.

"It allows the eye care professional to obtain a better view of the eye's optic nerve to look for early signs of glaucoma," said Pomeroy. "With treatment, glaucoma usually can be controlled and remaining vision can be protected."

In many people, glaucoma occurs when the normal fluid pressure inside the eye progressively increases, leading to optic nerve damage and reduced peripheral (side) vision. As the disease worsens, the field of vision gradually narrows and blindness can result. Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss in the United States and affects about three million Americans.

"Up to one-half of this number may be unaware they have the disease," Pomeroy said. "Higher risk population groups include everyone over the age of 60, African Americans and all blacks over the age of 40 and people who have a family history of glaucoma. These people need to receive a dilated eye exam at least every two years."

Carmen J. Wilson, M.D., a Morehouse School of Medicine assistant professor and Morehouse Medical Associates ophthalmologist, said if glaucoma is detected and treated early in its progression, it can usually be slowed and serious vision loss can be delayed.

"People at risk for glaucoma often presume that if their vision is fine, there is no need to be concerned," she said. "It is only when they notice vision loss that they take action. And while steps can be taken to preserve remaining vision, such as with eye drops or laser surgery, vision already lost from glaucoma is lost forever."

A free brochure, "Don't Lose Sight of Glaucoma," is available by calling Prevent Blindness Georgia at 404-266-0071.

Founded in 1965, Prevent Blindness Georgia is a nonprofit, volunteer health agency that brings sight-saving programs and services, early detection vision screenings and public education to children and adults throughout the state.

Programs include children's vision screenings, vision outreach to indigent adults, vouchers for free or reduced cost glasses and vision screening training programs. In 1999, staff and volunteers vision screened more than 10,000 four-year-olds and trained almost 400 volunteers and professionals on how to conduct a vision screening.

Prevent Blindness Georgia is an affiliate of Prevent Blindness America, founded in 1908 and the nation's leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight.

Glaucoma Awareness Month is coordinated by the National Eye Institute and sponsored by organizations representing the National Eye Health Education Program Partnership, a nationwide effort to educate the public about the importance of preventive eye care.