General Optical Council

The International Glaucoma Association (IGA) is urging patients to resist the temptation of putting off having a regular sight test during the credit crunch. A sight test can pick up conditions such as glaucoma in the early stages where they have no symptoms and this early diagnosis is crucial in saving people’s sight.

National Glaucoma Awareness Week takes place 8-14 June and the IGA is aiming to encourage everyone over 40 to have a routine eye test once every two years. This should include all three tests for glaucoma, which are quick and painless, whether or not the patient believes there is anything wrong with their vision.

Glaucoma is the leading cause of preventable blindness in the UK and half of those with the condition are unaware that they have it. Damage caused by glaucoma is not reversible but you can treat glaucoma to prevent further vision loss.

For more information, see www.glaucoma-association.com