Glaucoma screening essential by age of 45
GLAUCOMA NEW ZEALAND
For release: 24th May 2007
Glaucoma screening essential by age of
45
New Zealand’s leading preventable cause of
blindness will be firmly in focus
next month, when
Glaucoma New Zealand launches a campaign to encourage
early
testing for the condition.
Public meetings are to
be held in key centres, during and around Glaucoma
Week
(16th-23rd June), explaining the need for testing and
promoting the
message of ’45 and every 5’.
Meeting
venues have been selected on both sides of Auckland’s
Harbour Bridge
as well as in Tauranga, Wellington and
Christchurch (see below).
The message ’45 and every
5’ reflects Glaucoma New Zealand’s
recommendation
that everyone have their eyes tested for
the condition by the age of 45,
with regular five yearly
tests thereafter. Earlier and more frequent
testing is
recommended for those with a family history of Glaucoma or
when
some other risk factor is present.
“Testing is
vital because glaucoma is a silent disease, and, unless
you’re
specifically screened for it, problems can go
unnoticed until you’re almost
completely blind. After
that, it’s too late to do much about the
condition,”
says Dr Helen Danesh-Meyer, Associate
Professor at the Department of
Ophthalmology, in the
Medical School of the University of Auckland and
a
Glaucoma New Zealand Trustee.
“As our leading cause
of preventable blindness, Glaucoma can clearly
impose
huge restrictions and changes in lifestyle both on
those afflicted and on
their families. Even if you
retain some sight, you may no longer be able to
drive, to
play your favourite sport or to comply with the requirements
of
your job.
“The good news is that glaucoma causes
very little blindness when it’s
diagnosed early and
when those affected comply with their treatment.
More
often than not, the condition then becomes highly
manageable. So ’45 and
every 5’ is clearly the way to
go,” she says.
Dr Danesh-Meyer adds that testing is a
simple procedure that can be
carried-out by your local
optometrist. However, it’s vital to ensure you
are
given all three standard glaucoma tests, including
examination of your
optic nerve, the pressure in your eye
and your side vision.
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DETAILS OF PUBLIC MEETINGS (See Release)
Auckland - North
Shore
Saturday 16th June 2007
Venue: Fairway Lodge,
Argus Place, Glenfield
10.00 - 11.30 am
Speaker: Dr
Jo Koppens
Auckland Central
Saturday 23rd June
2007
Venue: NZICA Conference Centre, 27 Ohinerau Rd,
Greenlane
10.00 - 11.30 am
Speaker: Associate
Professor Helen Danesh-Meyer
Christchurch
Saturday 23rd
June 2007
Venue: Christchurch Boys High School
Auditorium, Straven Road
10.00 - 11.30 am
Speakers:
Dr David Kent and Dr Allan Simpson
Tauranga
Saturday
23rd June 2007
Venue: Bureta Mark Motor Inn, Vale St,
Otumoetai
10.00 - 11.30 am
Speaker: Dr Mike
O'Rourke
Wellington
Saturday 30th June 2007
Venue:
National Library of NZ, Cnr Molesworth & Aitken Sts,
Wellington
10.00 - 11.30 am
Speakers: Dr Tony Wells
and Dr Ken
Tarr
ends