Dr Yavische Reddy leads the fight against glaucoma in KwaDukuza and Ballito
Her approach to ophthalmology goes beyond diagnosis; it's about offering real solutions to maintain and improve vision.
Dr Yavische Reddy, a respected medical professional from the University of Cape Town, is passionate about combatting glaucoma, a leading cause of preventable blindness.
With two practices in KwaDukuza and Ballito, Dr Reddy underscores the urgency of early glaucoma screening and offers vital insights into its detection, treatment, and prevention.
Dr. Reddy said ophthalmology allowed her make a real difference in the lives of her patients.
“Not only is it my passion, but what I love most is that it not only allows me to diagnose a problem, but offer a solution to maintain and improve my patients’ vision.
“Glaucoma is a commonly preventable cause of silent blindness when screened timeously,” she advised, warning that while the disease can occur at any age, people over 40 are a lot more
at risk.
“Many forms of glaucoma have no warning signs. The effect is so gradual that you may not notice a change in vision,” she said.
Many sufferers only pick up issues with their eyesight at later stages when their central vision is being impacted.
Because peripheral vision is first impacted, many people fail to notice the changes.
“Glaucoma screening should start routinely at 40 years of age. It entails checking the intraocular pressure of an eye, checking for changes in the visual field and assessing the optic nerve,” she said.
People most at risk of glaucoma include those with a family history of the disease, people living with diabetes, myopic patients, people with previous eye injuries and steroid users.
Glaucoma, she warned, could result in irreversible damage to the optic nerve owing to abnormal eye pressure, which in turn could cause blindness.
“Treatment is easily available with eye drops and more advanced glaucoma may require laser or surgical treatment to prevent loss of vision,” Dr Reddy said.
While there is no cure, early treatment and regular follow-ups can often stop the damage and protect your vision.
You can find Dr Reddy at Suite 3, The Well in Ballito, or at 110 Hulett Street, Adams Medical Centre in KwaDukuza.
Visit her for a free glaucoma screening on 22 March. Contact the rooms at 061 434 0191 to make a booking.
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