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Over 40s need to heed glaucoma message on sight: optometrist

Tuesday April 8

The Glaucoma message is getting through to those with a family history of the disease, but the wider population still needs to heed the urgent call to have their eyes tested regularly, according to Gold Coast optometrist Bob Bowden.

Mr Bowden’s comments follow the launch of a major Glaucoma Awareness Campaign last month (March 6) that is specifically targeting the Gold Coast as part of a major pilot study, which if successful, may extend to the rest of Australia and possibly to the Asia Pacific region.

“Many of the people I talk to have heard about the campaign through news reports and advertising, but where it has been most successful has been to prompt those with a known family history of Glaucoma to have an eye examination.

“Since the start of the campaign, I’ve had a three to four different people with known family links to the eye disease come in each week for a routine check-up, but I am concerned that more people from the community still lack an understanding of how important it is to detect and treat Glaucoma early,” Mr Bowden said.

The peak body representing those with the disease, Glaucoma Australia, encourages everyone over the age of 40 to have their eyes tested at least every two years, or more regularly if there is a family history of the disease.

Optometrists Association Australia (OAA) Queensland spokesperson, Michael Hare, said glaucoma is called the ‘silent thief of sight’ because people generally lose their peripheral or side vision without being aware of the disease and only begin to notice changes when a significant portion of their vision is already lost.

Treatment of glaucoma cannot reverse the loss of sight, but if it is detected early enough, it can be controlled and sufferers can lead a normal life with most of their vision intact, Mr Hare said.

It is estimated that there are more than 300,000 Australians with glaucoma, and half of them are not aware they have the disease. On the Gold Coast alone, as many as 6,000 to 7,000 people unknowingly could have glaucoma.

Mr Bowden said the simple message to everyone over 40 is to go to their optometrist for a simple eye check-up which is usually covered by Medicare, and follow it up every two years. It could mean the difference between a relatively normal life or one where sight depletion means major adjustments to a person’s lifestyle.

News Eds/Chiefs of Staff:

Bob Bowden operates an optometry practice in the Gold Coast suburb of Elanora and is available for interviews. He can be contacted on (07) 5598 1255 or 0417 759 585. Optometrists Association Australia (Queensland) spokesperson, Michael Hare, also is available for interviews on (07) 5532 9566 or 0438 769 747. Glaucoma Australia National Executive Officer, Beverley Lindsell, can be contacted on (02) 9906 6640. Released by: Bill Pickering, Hugo Halliday PR & Marketing Pty Ltd. Phone: (02) 9804 1785 or 0404 074 299.