Happy New Year, from all of us, here at The Eye Centre!
It’s World Glaucoma Week (6-12 March), a shared and highly successful initiative that has run for the past 10 years, and we are eager to support and spread awareness. World Glaucoma Week is made possible by the World Glaucoma Association and the World Glaucoma Patient Association and we feel strongly that this cause deserves recognition.
What is glaucoma and why does it deserve a whole week of awareness? Well, these are very good questions. Glaucoma is a condition in which pressure increases within the eye (otherwise known as intraocular pressure), and if left untreated, this condition can lead to irreversible visual field loss, tunnel vision, and eventually, blindness. This is why people often refer to glaucoma as the “silent robber of vision”. In essence, it causes progressive damage to the optic nerve and leaves the eye unable to carry visual information to the brain. Glaucoma awareness is important because it is an insidious condition – it causes few symptoms and is rarely diagnosed until much later when significant loss of vision has already developed. It is the second most common cause of blindness worldwide, and there are various ways to treat or prevent it.
In the early stages, it is often treated with eye drops and/or laser to lower the pressure inside the eye (and thus ease the strain on the optic nerve). However, if these treatments are ineffective, then minimally invasive surgery (MIGS) is advised to lower the pressure. The Eye Centre is fully equipped with the latest technological equipment to diagnose and manage glaucoma. Remember: early detection is essential in preventing the progression of this condition, which is why we recommend that you have your eyes regularly evaluated by an eye care professional.
For more information on glaucoma, visit the link here. To book an appointment with one of The Eye Centre’s specialists, please feel free to contact us via telephone at 021 852 6475 or email us at info@theeyecentre.co.za.
Best Wishes,
The Eye Centre
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Our highly specialised ophthalmic surgeons are committed to serving the community and to offering exceptional medical treatment to our patients.
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Experiencing visual symptoms and unsure of the problem? Our team can help identify and treat your eye condition.
Hope in sight
Our doctors participate in various community projects. Last year, the doctors performed free cataract surgeries on deserving state patients as part of the annual Eyecare Awareness Week.
