OSWI Goes Green For World Glaucoma Week
The members of Ophthalmological Society of the West Indies will Light up the Caribbean countries in Green for Glaucoma. The Ophthalmological Society of the West Indies will be joining the World Glaucoma Association and the World Glaucoma Patient Association on 11-17 March 2018 in observing the World Glaucoma Week, in order to raise public awareness of glaucoma. This year the theme chosen is “Green = Go Get Your Eyes Tested for Glaucoma. Save Your Sight!
Ophthalmologists from various Caribbean countries will give lectures on glaucoma, answer questions from patients relating to the disease and disseminate information on the disease through local newspapers, radio and television. Some members will also conduct glaucoma screening on patients at risk for the disease. Selected patients will receive free glaucoma medicines and find out more about Glaucoma surgery. For example, in Tobago, they will be conducting some free clinic at the Scarborough Hospital for Glaucoma by two-member doctors, Dr Sharma and Dr Dwarika. In Barbados, there will be several activities spearheaded by OSWI members as well as the University of the West Indies.
Glaucoma has been called “the silent thief of sight” and is the second most common cause of blindness, after cataract. Limited empirical data on blindness are available from OSWI member countries. In the Caribbean study conducted in 1998, estimated all-age both-gender age-standardised prevalence of blindness decreased from 0.6% (0.4 to 0.8) in 1990 to 0.5% (0.4 to 0.6) in 2010 and MSVI decreased from 3.3% (1.3 to 4.1) in 1990 to 2.9% (1.8 to 3.8). In the LAC regions combined, there was an estimated 2.3 million blind and 14.1 million with MSVI in 2010. In 2010, cataract continues to contribute the largest proportion of blindness, except in Southern Latin America where macular degeneration is most common. In 2010, uncorrected refractive error was the most common cause of MSVI. The Barbados Eye Study showed a high prevalence of blindness of 1.7% and of MSVI of 5.7%. The National Eye Study of Trinidad and Tobago revealed a much lower prevalence of blindness (0.73%) but a similar rate of MSVI (5.34%).
Glaucoma can affect all ages but it is more common among the elderly. Patients with glaucoma often do not notice that they are gradually becoming blind until the disease is quite advanced. This underscores the need for regular eye screening for those at risk of the disease. It is recommended that a person over 40 years, should have a check up every 3 to 5 years. If your family has a history of Glaucoma, on steroid medication, or a serious eye injury, then the test should be done 1-2 years. Consult your nearest ophthalmologist
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]