EYES on World Glaucoma Week

World Glaucoma Week is a global initiative organised by the World Glaucoma Association. They invite patients, eye care providers, health officials and the public to join forces in organising awareness activities worldwide. 

Glaucoma is the leading cause of preventable blindness, and distinct challenges are present in different regions of the world. The organisation’s goal is to alert everyone to have regular eye and optic nerve checks to detect glaucoma as early as possible because there are available treatments for all forms of glaucoma to prevent visual loss. 

If we shared every awareness day related to eyes across the world, these posts would get boring – and a bit gruesome.  However, glaucoma is the most common cause of irreversible vision loss across the world and based on that statistic alone, we’re reminding you, once again, that getting your eyes examined regularly is the thing to do.

If you’re having a ‘but I’ll go when I notice there’s an issue’ thought at this point, let us stop you right there. 

Glaucoma often develops gradually and without noticeable symptoms in its early stages. Regular eye examinations allow us to detect signs of glaucoma before it causes significant damage to your vision. Early detection can help in managing the condition more effectively and preventing further vision loss.

If you’ve got certain risk factors for developing glaucoma, it’s even more important you get your eyes examined when your optometrist tells you to. 

Do we sound like we’re nagging here? 

Yes? 

Good.  We are.

The entire team here at EYES have seen people who’ve lost some of their eyesight due to glaucoma which could have been prevented if they’d been for their eye examinations earlier.  It’s pretty much the worst part of our job. 

Catching it early can make a huge difference – there are so many treatment options available, and we will help you manage these if they’re prescribed. 

Just a reminder too – we don’t charge extra for our retinal scanning, photography and pressure tests like other practices do.  It’s all part of the EYES on St Albans service.

And if we can help you look after your eyes and make you a little more aware of what glaucoma is, hopefully we can be playing a part in spreading this message across our communities – here and worldwide.