Thousands of Australians are needlessly going blind because they don’t take a simple test to detect glaucoma.
Up to 300,000 Australians, or two in every 100, are estimated to have glaucoma.
Glaucoma is the name given to a group of diseases where the optic nerve in the eye is damaged, usually by increased pressure in the eye.Without adequate treatment or detection, it can cause complete loss of vision.
When it comes to glaucoma, it’s important to note that treatment can only save the remaining vision. It can’t recover what has already been lost.
Dr Brian Ang is a glaucoma fellowshiptrained eye surgeon at Melbourne Eye Specialists in Fitzroy. He says regular check-ups are crucial to glaucoma detection and treatment.
‘‘When people reach 40 they should make it a habit to have their eyes tested at least once a year,’’ he says.
‘‘You can get glaucoma at any age, but it becomes much more common the older you get.
‘‘It happens gradually, symptoms are not immediately perceptible, people adapt and don’t notice that it’s a problem,’’ he says.
Dr Ang regularly performs surgery to reduce eye pressure, often in combination with cataract surgery.
Surgical options for treatment of the disease have improved with the introduction of lasers, new techniques for filtering and non-penetrating surgery, and improved shunts and stents (such as the iStent and Xen), he says.
‘‘Having the experience and skill in selecting and performing the right procedure for patients is essential for a successful outcome.
‘‘With early detection and good treatment, glaucoma patients should not go blind,’’ Dr Ang says.
Melbourne Eye Specialists is the largest glaucoma practice in Melbourne. Its glaucoma specialists are fellowship-trained and have the experience to manage all aspects of the disease, including medical and
surgical treatment.
“Having the experience and skill in selecting and performing the right procedure for patients is essential for a successful outcome.”
‘‘We’re also an academic practice,’’ Dr Ang says. ‘‘We have strong links to the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital as well as the Centre for Eye Research Australia.’’
This matters, Dr Ang says, because the practice is actively invested in clinical research. Melbourne Eye Specialists has access to trials that investigate current and future options for glaucoma management.
The specialists at Melbourne Eye Specialists are multilingual and offer consultations in Mandarin, Cantonese and Bahasa Indonesia.
‘‘It’s essential that we can work together in partnership with a patient to achieve the best outcomes for the patient,’’ Dr Ang says.
‘‘If we communicate well, we can decide on a treatment plan together.’’
Dr Ang says glaucoma treatment is not an event, but a journey, with highs and lows and everything in between. It may involve multiple procedures.
‘‘Our long-term goal, and yours, is to prevent glaucoma blindness in your lifetime,’’ Dr Ang says.
‘‘With good care and the best treatment, the great majority of glaucoma patients should keep their vision for all of their lives.’’
