Glaucoma Awareness Month

World Glaucoma Awareness Month (March every year) is a timely reminder for Aussies to take a closer look at their eye health, and get their eyes checked on a regular basis.

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide¹. The disease effects 300,000 Australians, however due to glaucoma having little to no symptoms, half are not aware that they have the disease².

Glaucoma is often nicknamed the ‘silent thief of sight’ because peripheral vision loss occurs at such a gradual pace, it often goes unnoticed until it’s too late.

“Glaucoma cannot be self-detected. In most cases there are no symptoms or early warning signs to let you know there is something wrong with your eyes. The only way to check if you have glaucoma is to have an eye exam including an optic nerve check which is simple and completely pain-free”.

Optometry Australia’s 2020 Vision Index Report highlights that while the majority of Australians understand the benefits of a regular eye examination, an alarming one in eight Aussies have never seen an optometrist in their life³.

One in 10,000 babies are born with glaucoma and about 1 in 200 people will have glaucoma by age 40. By age 80, 1 in 8 people will have the disease.

Glaucoma Risk Factors

You are at a higher risk of developing glaucoma if you:

- Have a family history of glaucoma

- Have high eye pressure

- Are aged over 50

- Are of African or Asian descent

- Have diabetes

- Are short or long sighted

- Have been on a prolonged course of cortisone (steroid) medication

- Experience migraines

- Have had an eye operation or eye injury

- Have a history of high or low blood pressure