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Health Industry News

Liverpool optician urges residents not to be caught out by the silent thief of sight


HUNDREDS of people living across the region are at risk of having their vision stolen by a condition often dubbed as the silent thief of sight.

Liverpool optician urges residents not to be caught out by the silent thief of sight


"With the most common form of glaucoma, visual loss is initially very subtle, affecting mainly the peripheral vision rather than central,"
Melanie Lutas, director, Specsavers Liverpool L St



Almost 900 Liverpool residents are in danger of going blind from glaucoma – one of the largest causes of blindness in the world[1] – due to its gradual onset. That is why this Glaucoma Awareness Week (June 17-23), Specsavers in Liverpool is highlighting the importance of looking after our eyes.

Glaucoma usually occurs when naturally-occurring fluid inside the eye does not drain properly, leading to a build-up of pressure. This can then cause damage to the optic nerve and nerve fibres from the retina, in most cases without any symptoms. While the condition cannot be reversed, it can be managed – but early detection is key.

Melanie Lutas, ophthalmic director at Specsavers at stores in Liverpool and Huyton says: ‘There are several factors which can increase your risk of developing glaucoma such as a family history of the disease. Other risk factors would include those who have black-African or Asian heritage as well as those who have higher levels of short sightedness. Of course, age also needs to be considered as two in every 100 people over the age of 40 are affected with the condition’

More than 64 million people around the world live with glaucoma[2] – but as long as you are sensible you don’t need to let it take over your life.

Melanie says: ‘The good news is glaucoma can generally be treated effectively if detected early, and in most cases, daily eye drops are used.’

Symptoms can vary depending on what type of glaucoma you have – either chronic or acute. Many don’t realise there is anything wrong with their sight which is why regular visits to the optician are essential.

Melanie says: ‘With the most common form of glaucoma, visual loss is initially very subtle, affecting mainly the peripheral vision rather than central, which can make it harder to notice. Most people are not even aware there is any visual loss because of the way the eyes’ visual fields overlap to compensate for one another.

‘Some forms of glaucoma are more rapid with a sudden painful build-up of pressure in the eye which produces blurred vision and haloes around lights, but they are less common.’

It is vitally important people attend regular check-ups at their optician to check for any signs. At your appointment they will they will test your eye pressure as high pressure is a common sign of glaucoma, and they’ll do a visual field test which can detect any subtle blind spots you may not be aware of, which can also be an indicator of the condition.

Karen Osborn Chief Executive of the International Glaucoma Association (IGA) says: ‘We regularly hear from people who have permanently lost sight to glaucoma because of late diagnosis. People are often angry and upset to learn that simple regular visits to their local high street optometrist could have detected the condition. The earlier treatment starts, the more likely that someone will retain useful sight for life, so it’s great that so many Specsavers stores are on board with Awareness Week.’

For those who already have glaucoma, digital retinal photography (DRP) is used to asses and keep check of damage to the optic nerve and nerve fibres from the retina from pressure build up.

More than half of the Specsavers stores in the UK, including a growing number in the Liverpool region have already invested in 3D scanning technology which allows optometrists to view the eye in more detail than ever before.

The Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) machine is a cutting-edge piece of equipment, usually found in hospital eye departments. It is used for a variety of functions including screening and management of conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.

The technology produces a structural scan of the eye, including layers of the eye that would not normally be visible using traditional eye testing techniques. This means that conditions like glaucoma can be monitored more effectively than before.

 

Many Optometrists in Specsavers across the Liverpool region have taken additional accreditations   in glaucoma management to improve their skills and many staff members have been further trained to better support customers with glaucoma – including how to administrate eye drops effectively.

Melanie adds: ‘Our sight is so precious. We all make sure we visit our dentist every six months and a sight test every two years should also be on our to do lists. It could, quite literally, save your sight.’

Specsavers and the IGA recommends everyone should get an eye test once every two years or more often if advised by a health professional. For further information or to book an appointment visit www.specsavers.com/stores

 

[1] https://www.glaucoma-association.com/about-the-iga/what-we-do/campaigns/men-more-likely-to-have-significant-glaucoma-sight-loss/

[2] https://www.glaucoma-association.com/about-the-iga/what-we-do/campaigns/men-more-likely-to-have-significant-glaucoma-sight-loss/

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