What you can?t see can hurt

A campaign is under way to encourage a simple check than can combat the number one cause of preventable blindness in New Zealand.
THERE'S no way Masterton Mayor Bob Francis and his Carterton counterpart Gary McPhee will be turning a blind eye to council business after they both got the all-clear for glaucoma.
The two mayors were tested yesterday by Masterton optometrist Stuart Henderson, as part of Glaucoma Week when Glaucoma New Zealand works to raise the awareness of the number-one cause of preventable blindness in New Zealand.
Glaucoma is a condition in which the eye's intraocular pressure is too high, which if left undiagnosed and untreated will lead to blindness.
It's thought that 50 per cent of glaucoma in New Zealand is undiagnosed, and early detection can prevent the loss of vision from this potentially devastating disease.
There are usually no signs that someone is developing glaucoma until it progresses to optic nerve damage and vision loss and that is why it's so important to have regular eye examinations.
"Glaucoma is known as the 'silent thief of sight' because it is a disease of the eye that can remain without symptoms for a number of years, while visual loss is slowly occurring," Mr Henderson said.
Glaucoma is a group of related diseases that damage the optic nerve that carries signals from the eye to the brain, and damage is usually caused by increased fluid pressure within the eye.
The side or peripheral vision is lost first and that is why visual loss goes undetected until is it quite advanced.
Mr Henderson said damage caused before diagnosis was irreversible, and said the only way to identify whether someone has glaucoma was to test for it and it was very important to have regular eye tests.
The good news is that with timely treatment and good education people who have glaucoma can keep excellent vision for their entire life.
Mr Francis and Mr McPhee were among more than 60 local body leaders working together to raise awareness about glaucoma and joining them yesterday were two Masterton people who have the eye disease.
Lyn Fahey was diagnosed two years ago and said there had been some sight loss in both eyes but her sight had not worsened since she was now having treatment and six-monthly check-ups.
There were no restrictions in living life, such as not being able to drive, and that also applied to Ray Clarey.
Mr Clarey was diagnosed six years ago, and since then has had regular treatment and check-ups. He said his left eye is fine and he still has a central spot in his vision.