World Glaucoma Week and the importance of regular eye tests.
Post on 10th March 2020
It’s World Glaucoma Week (8th – 14th March), a time when we encourage more people to book an eye test and prevent avoidable sight loss.
Approximately 3 million people aged 40 or older have Glaucoma and half don’t even know they have it. It affects people from all walks of life, including celebrities like Kirk Pengilly from Australian rock group, INXS.
Glaucoma is most common in adults in their 70s and 80s, but can affect people of all ages – including babies and young children. Although it usually develops slowly over many years very occasionally it can develop suddenly and cause intense eye pain, a red eye, headaches, tenderness around the eyes and blurred vision.
The disease has few or no initial symptoms but causes damage to the eye’s optic nerve that worsens over time. While treatment is effective in arresting the disease, it cannot reverse damage caused previously. This means the earlier the diagnosis, the less damage done and the more vision there is to save.
If you have any concerns about your eye health, or you have not had an eye test for more than two years, you can find help and advice at your local Scrivens branch.
To find your nearest branch enter your postcode below