Glaucoma needs to be visible concern

WGP 08Jul15 - MAYOR Neil Volzke has his eye health checked by optometrist Phillipa Charteris, of Stratford Optometrists.

Imagine not being able to drive, work, play sport, see your family, watch television, read or enjoy any activities that involve your sight.

That's the future more New Zealanders will face if knowledge about glaucoma, the leading cause of preventable blindness, drops or stops.

For 14 years, Glaucoma New Zealand has fought to make glaucoma a highly visible disease so Kiwis know to check their eyesight regularly and prevent blindness.

Optometrist Phillipa Charteris, of Stratford Optometrists, says the tests for Glaucoma are straightforward and a worthwhile investment in your future independence and health. "It's a great idea to come in for an eye health WOF even if you don't need glasses or your current glasses are still in good working order."

"My youngest patient with Glaucoma was born with it and is now 18 months old. Otherwise our youngest patients to develop Glaucoma with no presenting symptoms in recent years were 38, 42 and 43 years of age, they were all picked up from routine eye examinations and all had no known family history. Our risk factors increase with age but birthdays are not always the biggest risk factor." Phillipa says people should not presume they are too young to be at risk from the disease.

Early detection is key, she adds. "Technology is allowing us to detect Glaucoma earlier than ever before and with appropriate treatment any visual loss can be lessened significantly and may never impact on your independence later in life providing the disease process is detected early enough."

Mayor Neil Volzke called into Stratford Optometrists to have an eye check and says he encourages people to "take the time to have their eye health checked. Glaucoma is such a common medical condition and it can be easily managed".

Glaucoma New Zealand offers services to everyone affected by and concerned with glaucoma; advocating for regular eye checks, educating the public and health professionals, providing support and information to those with a diagnosis of glaucoma and their families, contributing to research and campaigning for low-cost, accessible treatments for glaucoma. But the support provided to increasing numbers of people diagnosed with glaucoma, from Kaitaia to Bluff, comes at an additional cost.

Glaucoma New Zealand receives no government funding for its important work.

"Like any charity, we rely on the generosity of the New Zealand public. But Glaucoma New Zealand needs more support. We have seen a vast increase in the numbers of people diagnosed with glaucoma in the last few years," Glaucoma New Zealand chair Professor Helen Danesh-Meyer says.

About 91,000 New Zealanders (2 per cent of the population) over the age of 40 have glaucoma and more than half don't know they have it.

That means there is a very real possibility they will go completely blind.

"Glaucoma is a silent disease, you can be legally blind before you notice the symptoms," Professor Danesh-Meyer says.

Blindness can mean the instant loss of your driver's licence and a massive change to your lifestyle.

"Most people consider their vision as their most precious sense," Professor Danesh-Meyer says.

Potential sponsors and donors can make a donation via this website or by visiting their nearest ASB Bank branch during July to help Glaucoma NZ continue this work.

Participating optometrists, ophthalmologists and pharmacies will also have Glaucoma NZ collection boxes in July. Stratford Optometrists on Miranda Street have a collection box on their front counter and are also selling Glaucoma NZ pens. Phillipa says the practice will be making a donation to Glaucoma NZ for every eye examination completed in July and giving every person who purchases a pair of complete glasses during July with a Glaucoma NZ pen paid for by the practice.