Glaucoma is a serious matter
This week is known as National Glaucoma week and though this eye problem might go unnoticed, it can actually cause blindness.
What is glaucoma? Glaucoma is a group of diseases that damage the eye’s optic nerve and can result in vision loss and blindness. However with early detection and treatment people can often protect their eyes from serious damage.
An optometrist at Torga Optical Mokopane, Derick Danhauser says: “We have quite a number of people in Mokopane with glaucoma. It is very difficult to notice if you have this problem or not. Sometimes you can have glaucoma but not even realise it.
This eye problem is caused by an increase of pressure in your eye. Usually the best way to prevent it is to go for regular screenings. If a problem is detected you will be sent to an eye specialist and diagnosed. Usually the only thing that can be done is use eyedrops.
Glaucoma is very serious if you think about the fact that it damages your eye nerves and eventually causes blindness.
You will first start losing your peripheral (side) vision.”
The symptoms of glaucoma is very hard to detect.
You might not even know that you have it.
It will only start affecting your side vision and when blindness sets in you will never be able to regain your sight.
Therefore there is no physical cure for glaucoma.
Early diagnoses is very important for this disease as it can delay the progression of the disease. Glaucoma treatments include medicines, eye drops, laser trabeculoplasty or conventional surgery. These solutions will still not bring back any sight that has been lost.
That is why it is very important to take care of your eyes. Test regularly and treat it like gold. After all you only have one pair.
