By Dylana Milobar

World Glaucoma Week emphasizes regular eye check ups

Mar 14, 2019 | 4:41 PM

KAMLOOPS — While eye health is always important, World Glaucoma Week stresses how crucial regular check ups can be. 

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can cause damage to the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain. 

Dr. Russell Ebata of Ebata Eye Care says keeping track of patient eye state is vital in making sure Glaucoma doesn’t progress. 

“Glaucoma is commonly associated with the fluid pressure inside the eye being too high. So that’s why every time you see the eye doctor, you get the puff test. So even though everybody hates it, it’s really important.”

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There is no cure for Glaucoma yet, and since vision loss is irreversible, Dr. Ebata says early detection through regular eye appointments is key. 

“Glaucoma is a really, really common condition across the world. In North America, it’s very under diagnosed,” he explains. “Which means that there’s people walking around doing their day-to-day activities, and they actually have Glaucoma and they don’t know it. Because again, it doesn’t hurt, and it doesn’t often change their vision in the early stages.

Glaucoma is becoming known as the second leading cause of blindness, according to WorldGlaucomaWeek.org.

For more information on this disease and eye health, speak to an eyecare specialist.