World Glaucoma Week 6-12 March
Glaucoma sufferers are up to four times more likely to have a car accident than the average Australian, and to coincide with this year’s World Glaucoma Week, Glaucoma Australia is educating Australians about the significant impact this disease has on driving particularly if left undetected and untreated.
According to Glaucoma Australia, of the 300,000 Australians suffering from glaucoma, 50% remain undiagnosed.
Beverley Lindsell, national executive officer of Glaucoma Australia, believes glaucoma can impact an individual’s ability to perform everyday tasks such as driving if it is not under control.
“Glaucoma is a leading worldwide cause of irreversible blindness. Known as the ‘silent thief of sight’, glaucoma, if neglected, is a devastating condition that robs individuals of their quality of life. Activities like driving, locating items, walking on stairs and recognising faces can be difficult for glaucoma patients to manage,” she said.
Research that investigated the on-road driving performance of patients with glaucoma which included interventions to prevent unsafe situations, found that patients with glaucoma were six times more likely than those with normal vision to have an instructor intervene. This was primarily due to difficulty detecting peripheral obstacles and hazards and reaction to unexpected events.
Dr Paul Healey, glaucoma specialist and Asia-Pacific coordinator for World Glaucoma Week, says “Drivers with glaucoma have reduced peripheral vision which may prevent them from seeing cars close to them when pulling in or out of traffic, or when overtaking. Side vision loss, sensitivity to lights such as sunlight or headlight glare, blurred vision and an increase in near-miss crashes are all warning signals that should prompt the individual to seek professional help to evaluate their ability to drive responsibly”.
Research confirms that glaucoma heightens the risk of involvement in motor vehicle collisions. Studies estimate that the risk of involvement in a traffic accident increases between 1.7 to 3.6 times, representing a major cause of injury, hospitalisation or death.
Glaucoma Australia is encouraging all Australians during World Glaucoma Week, especially those over aged over 40 or those who have a family history of glaucoma, to have regular, comprehensive eye exams to check for signs of the disease. Primary risk factors for glaucoma include:
- Being 40 years and over
- A family history of glaucoma
- High intraocular pressure (IOP)
- Marked nearsightedness
- African descent (open-angle glaucoma)
- Asian descent (angle-closed glaucoma)
As glaucoma develops gradually, patients may not be aware that they are suffering from the disease.
“Although the effects of glaucoma can be devastating, early detection and treatment can significantly reduce damage to the eyes. Glaucoma causes permanent, irreversible damage to the eyes and for this reason, early detection plays a crucial role in the management of the disease. It is important to be aware of the risk factors and to discuss any concerns with an eye health professional,” Dr Healey said.
