World Glaucoma Week, held annually from March 9th to 15th, is a crucial global initiative to raise awareness about glaucoma, the leading cause of preventable blindness. This week serves as a powerful reminder for individuals to prioritise their eye health and seek regular check-ups. Early detection of glaucoma is key, as timely treatment can prevent visual loss and preserve sight. It is estimated that about 80 million people worldwide have glaucoma.1 The frightening fact is that about half of them are unaware they have it. In South Africa, an estimated 5-7% of the black population and 3-5% of the white population are affected.2
Good eye care is essential for maintaining vision and overall quality of life. While many people address eye problems only when they become obvious, it’s crucial to understand that some eye diseases, like glaucoma, can develop without noticeable symptoms in their early stages.
“This makes regular eye checkups and proactive eye care habits vital,” says Dr Jenny Laithwaite an ophthalmologist from Johannesburg.
“Many people make the mistake of neglecting their eyes until a problem arises. However, some conditions, especially in their early stages, present no symptoms. Glaucoma, for instance, often progresses silently, causing irreversible damage before a person notices vision changes. This highlights the importance of regular eye examinations, even if you think your vision is fine,” she stresses.
What constitutes good eye care?
Good eye care involves a combination of proactive measures:
Regular checkups: Annual eye exams with an optometrist or ophthalmologist are crucial for early detection of eye diseases. These exams can identify problems like glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration before they cause significant vision loss.
Healthy diet: A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and antioxidants supports overall eye health. Just as a healthy diet benefits the rest of your body, it also nourishes the nerves and tissues in your eyes.
Balanced activities: Balancing near activities (like reading or screen time) with outdoor activities that involve focusing on distant objects is beneficial.
“The 20/20/20 rule is recommended: every 20 minutes, focus on something about six metres (20 feet) away for 20 seconds. This helps reduce eye strain associated with prolonged close-up work. While excessive screen time itself doesn’t cause physical damage to the eye, it can lead to myopia (near-sightedness) discomfort, dryness, headaches, and difficulty adjusting focus,” Dr Laithwaite advises.
Protecting your eyes: Wearing sunglasses to shield your eyes from harmful UV rays, and using protective eyewear during activities that pose a risk to your eyes (like sports or DIY projects) are essential for preventing injuries and long-term damage.
Awareness of family history: Knowing your family’s eye health history is important, as some conditions like glaucoma can be hereditary. If you have a family history of eye disease, talk to your optometrist or ophthalmologist about increased screening and preventative measures.
Understanding Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain.
It often results from increased pressure inside the eye, which gradually damages the nerve fibres. Dr. Laithwaite stressed the following points about glaucoma:
Silent progression: Glaucoma often has no noticeable symptoms in its early stages. This makes regular eye exams critical for early detection because it can pick up the increased pressure in the eye.
Early detection is key: Dr. Laithwaite emphasises that early detection of glaucoma is vital, as it allows for timely intervention and can prevent further vision deterioration.
“If it’s diagnosed late, treatment can only save the vision that they still have left,” Dr Laithwaite warns.
Risk Factors: Family history of glaucoma is a significant risk factor, and while it can occur at any age, the risk increases with age.
In some populations, glaucoma tends to develop later in life, but in South Africa, Dr. Laithwaite noted, it appears not only to be more prevalent than in other countries but also affects more young people, making early detection even more crucial.
“This underscores the importance of regular eye exams, even for those who feel their vision is fine. Because glaucoma often develops without noticeable symptoms, the only way someone might realise there’s a problem is by experiencing vision loss, often more pronounced in one eye than the other. By the time such symptoms appear, irreversible damage has likely already occurred. However, treatment can help slow or prevent further vision loss,” Dr Laithwaite elaborates.
Diagnosis: Glaucoma is typically diagnosed through an eye exam that includes measuring the pressure inside the eye. Optometrists are often the first point of contact for such tests.
Treatment: The primary treatment for glaucoma is to reduce the pressure in the eye, usually with eye drops. This treatment is typically lifelong and requires regular monitoring. While treatment cannot restore lost vision, it can prevent further vision deterioration.
Other risk factors: While not directly related, using cortisone or steroid medications (including oral, nasal sprays, creams, and eye drops) can increase eye pressure and may contribute to glaucoma development. Patients using these medications should discuss potential risks with their doctors.
Other Eye Diseases:
Cataracts: Cataracts are a common age-related condition where the lens of the eye becomes cloudy. Virtually everyone will develop cataracts if they live long enough.
Diabetic retinopathy: Diabetes can damage the blood vessels in the retina, leading to vision loss. People with diabetes need regular eye exams to monitor for this condition.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD): AMD affects the central part of the retina and can cause blurred vision. It is more common in older adults.
Myopia (Near-sightedness): Myopia is becoming increasingly common, particularly with more close-up work like screen time.
Keratoconus: Keratoconus is a condition that affects the shape of the cornea and causes vision to gradually worsen. In younger people, continuous rubbing of itchy or allergic eyes is associated with the development of keratoconus. One in ten people with keratoconus also has a parent with the condition.
Impact of high blood pressure and cholesterol: High blood pressure and high cholesterol can affect eyesight by damaging the blood vessels that supply the retina and optic nerve. It’s important to manage these conditions for overall health, including eye health.
Protecting your eyes: A holistic approach
Protecting your eyesight requires a holistic approach that includes regular eye exams, a healthy lifestyle, and protecting your eyes from injury and excessive sun exposure. By adopting these habits and seeking timely care, you can significantly reduce your risk of developing eye diseases and maintain good vision throughout your life.
If you need more information on eye care or assistance, don’t hesitate to contact LifeAssist. Access to eye care and treatment for glaucoma is widely available in both private and public healthcare systems in South Africa.
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