Senior Living
Don't Let Glaucoma Steal Your Sight National Non-profit Provides Free Eye Exams for the Uninsured
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Aug 29, 2005, 13:50

(ARA) – Summer is a time for families to gather for everything from backyard barbecues to full fledged family reunions, or to take that cross country drive to visit grandma and grandpa. It’s also a great time to share family stories and history, passing on family lore to the next generation, and filling in any gaps in the family tree.
During these special get togethers, it is also important to take this opportunity to review your family’s medical history. Many medical problems are hereditary, so it makes sense to know your family’s background. Does anyone have a history of heart problems or high blood pressure for example; does a certain type of cancer run in the family? Something you may not think to ask about is eye disease, such as glaucoma.

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the United States – and the leading cause of blindness among African Americans and Hispanics. It is a disease that slowly damages the nerve that connects the eye to the brain. For most people, this damage occurs when pressure in the eye is too high.

“Because glaucoma usually progresses without pain, often the first warning people have is some vision loss; over time a person with glaucoma may notice their side vision gradually failing. That is, objects in the front may still be seen clearly, but objects to the side may be blurry or absent,” explains Martin Wand, M.D., Glaucoma EyeCare Program committee chairman for EyeCare America, a public service foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. As the disease worsens, the field of vision narrows and can result in complete blindness.

Nearly 3 million people have glaucoma, but half do not realize it due to the lack of warning symptoms and the lack of medical care for nearly 44 million uninsured Americans. Those with a family history of glaucoma have a higher risk of developing the disease, as do African Americans and Hispanics. “Glaucoma is six to eight times more common in African Americans than Caucasians, and Hispanics have a 4 percent incidence of glaucoma, more than double that of the general population,” notes Dr. Wand.

Other glaucoma risk factors include having diabetes, being 60 years of age old or older, having been diagnosed with high eye pressure, a previous history of eye injuries, and steroid use.

There is no cure for glaucoma, but it can be treated successfully. “Early diagnosis, frequent check-ups, proper on-going treatment and using medication as directed by your doctor are the best defenses against vision loss,” says Dr. Wand. Glaucoma is normally found during an eye exam where the patient’s pupils are dilated. Medicare covers an annual dilated eye exam for all people at risk for glaucoma.

Those who are uninsured and determined to be at increased risk for glaucoma can turn to EyeCare America’s Glaucoma EyeCare Program (GEP), which promotes early detection and treatment of glaucoma. The Glaucoma EyeCare Program refers eligible individuals to one of EyeCare America’s 7,500 volunteer ophthalmologists across the U.S. who will provide a free eye exam and initiate treatment when necessary. This exam is free to uninsured, eligible callers.

EyeCare America provides a glaucoma risk assessment test on its Web site (www.eyecareamerica.org) to help determine if you are at increased risk; you may also get this information mailed to you by calling its toll-free help line. EyeCare America’s help line operates 24 hours a day, everyday, year-round.

“Thank you for giving me the opportunity to have my eyes checked by a volunteer ophthalmologist. With no health insurance of any kind, I was truly worried about glaucoma, since it does run in my family,” said Ellen Linsk, an EyeCare America patient from Altamonte Springs, Fla. “I had no problem at all either making the appointment or seeing the doctor, and now, knowing that my eyes are fine, at least for the present, I feel much better and certainly much less stressed. Again, thank you so very much for this gift.”

To learn more about EyeCare America's public service programs or to see if you, a family member or a friend qualify for a free referral, call (800) 391-EYES (3937) or visit www.eyecareamerica.org for more information about glaucoma.
Courtesy of ARA Content

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