‘Don’t turn a blind eye to glaucoma’

ALMOST 1,000 people across Ireland are suffering from blindness caused by glaucoma, it emerged yesterday.

New figures from the National Council for the Blind in Ireland (NCBI) revealed cases of the disease have risen by 27% in the last three years.

The condition also accounts for around 8% of registered blind people in Ireland.

The shocking statistics were announced at the launch of Glaucoma Awareness Week, a campaign with a patient booklet raising awareness of the disease and including tips and advice for people at risk of, and suffering from, glaucoma.

“Glaucoma is the most preventable form of blindness in the world and the vast majority of cases could be easily managed if the disease was detected early enough,” said Des Kenny, the CEO of NCBI.

“Sadly, the number of people registering with glaucoma in Ireland is constant when it really should be falling.

“We would urge people to get their eyes checked regularly because glaucoma can be easily managed if it is detected early and further sight loss can be prevented.”

Glaucoma is a general term used to describe damage to the optic nerve.

A certain amount of pressure inside the eye is important to keep the eye’s shape and size, but damage to the optic nerve in glaucoma is usually associated with excessive pressure in the eye.

People over 40 are at an increased risk from glaucoma and if there is a history of glaucoma in the family there is a 20% chance of developing the condition.

Glaucoma is also three to eight times more common in Afro-Caribbean people compared to people from Europe.

“We now have nearly a thousand people — 973 — registered with glaucoma. In 2004, the figure was 763,” said Mr Kenny.

“We try to help these people maintain as much independence as possible. If people have any doubt in their mind about the quality of their vision, we would urge them to have an eye exam or get in contact with NCBI.

“What we are trying to do is reduce the number of people going blind from something which is preventable.”

Professor Colm O’Brien, consultant ophthalmologist at the Mater Hospital, said the condition could not be cured, but stressed that if its progression was diagnosed early it could be successfully halted.

“The key is to catch the problem early, as 40% of the optic nerve can be damaged before any vision loss is noticed,” he said.

“As the most preventable cause of blindness in the world today, everybody aged between 40 and 64 should have an eye exam every two to four years. After 65, it should be every two years.”