Early Screening For Glaucoma Can Prevent Blindness

PUTRAJAYA, March 15 (Bernama) -- Those at risk of getting glaucoma, an eye condition that damages the optic nerve, advised to seek early examination to avoid serious loss of vision and permanent blindness, said Putrajaya Hospital Ophthalmologist Dr Rathna a/p Ramayaj. She said glaucoma, which is one of the leading causes of blindness for people over the age of 60, was becoming a worrying eye disease as it had been detected in people aged 40, especially those with diabetes, myopia and with a family history of glaucoma. Citing findings of the National Eye Survey in Malaysia, she said 6.6 per cent of blindness among those aged 50 and above was due to glaucoma. "The Increase in age is a risk for primary open angle glaucoma and primary angle closure glaucoma. Overall, the prevalence of open angle glaucoma in terms of age is 0.3 percent for 40-year-olds and increased sharply to 3.3 percent to those aged 70," she told Bernama here recently. Dr Rathna said glaucoma screening is aimed at identifying individuals with early stages of the disease to prevent permanent blindness. "Like other chronic diseases, glaucoma not only has a negative impact on the quality of life and cost of healthcare, it also increases the economic burden of individuals, families and communities and reduces national productivity, " she added. She said glaucoma is caused by high eye pressure, thus resulting in damage to the optic nerve, with the patients having no symptoms or experience visual field deterioration, eye pain, red eyes, seeing light circles (haloes), headache, dizziness and vomiting. Dr Rathna said glaucoma could be treated to maintain maximum vision function throughout the patient’s life without compromising quality of life at a sustainable cost. "Currently, eye pressure reduction is the only effective approach to prevent glaucoma from getting worse. Eye pressure reduction can be done through eye drops, laser treatment, surgery or a combination of these treatment methods," she said. -- BERNAMA