As Britain delights in double Olympic medal winning success of glaucoma sufferer, Jade Etherington in the Paralympics in Sochi, closer to home a Sheffield optometrist is urging people to have regular eye examinations in a bid to ‘Beat Invisible Glaucoma’.
‘B-I-G – Beat Invisible Glaucoma’ is the theme of the 6th World Glaucoma Week (9th – 15th March) that is organised by The World Glaucoma Association (WGA) and the World Glaucoma Patient Association (WGPA) to raise awareness of glaucoma; often dubbed ‘The Sneak Thief of Sight’ as many people are unaware that they have the disease and consequently receive no treatment until it is too late.
Throughout March, Alex Gage will be offering a £10 discount on retinal imaging at both his Woodseats and Crosspool practices in a bid to detect glaucoma early.
Alex Gage said: “Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that cause progressive damage of the optic nerve at the point where it leaves the eye to carry visual information to the brain. If left untreated, most types of glaucoma progress (without warning nor obvious symptoms to the patient) towards gradually worsening visual damage and possible blindness. This visual damage is mostly irreversible, so it’s vital that it is captured early.
“Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, yet 90% of cases could have been prevented. Nine million persons globally are blind from it and this number will rise as the population ages. Owing to the silent progression of the disease, at least in its early stages, up to 50% of affected persons in developed countries are not aware of having glaucoma and are receiving no treatment. In the early stages, glaucoma is usually only detected via an eye examination.”
Author of the 2014 theme, National Executive Officer of GLAUCOMA AUSTRALIA, Geoff Pollard asserts: ‘Low glaucoma detection rates and an increase in glaucoma prevalence as populations age mean BIG solutions are needed to educate communities about glaucoma awareness and the need for regular optic nerve checks to reduce global blindness. That’s why I support the “B-I-G – Beat Invisible Glaucoma” campaign for World Glaucoma Week 2014.’
For more information about glaucoma or to book a retinal imaging appointment, please contact Alex Gage at 857 Chesterfield Road, Woodseats on 0114 274 8582 or at 48 Sandygate Road Crosspool on 0114 266 7066.
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