Survey: Twice as many fear blindness as premature death

Twice as many people are afraid of going blind as of premature death or heart disease, a survey revealed today.

In a worldwide study of more than 4,000 people on the eye disease glaucoma, researchers found a quarter did not know about the potential dangers of the debilitating condition.

Professor Colm O’Brien, Consultant Ophthalmologist at Dublin’s Mater Hospital, said the best way to tackle it is with early diagnosis.

“The risk of getting glaucoma increases as we age. Other risk factors include having a family member with glaucoma, being short-sighted and also diabetes,” he said.

“All the evidence indicates that if we can diagnose a patient in the early stage of the disease, then there is every likelihood that treatment will prevent progression of the disease.”

Glaucoma is the name given to a number of diseases that irreversibly damage the eye’s optic nerve and can cause progressive loss of vision if left untreated.

Some 27% of people surveyed said they do not know what glaucoma is and nearly 40% do not know it can cause blindness.

The results of the study, sponsored by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, were published to mark the first World Glaucoma Day tomorrow.