While the world observes World Glaucoma Week, Dominicans have been informed that the illness is the leading cause of permanent blindness in the country.
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases in which the optic nerve is damaged, leading to progressive permanent blindness.
Minister for Health Julius Timothy, in his address on World Glaucoma Week, disclosed that over one 1,600 Dominicans over the age of 50 years have glaucoma.
“About 50 percent of them don’t know that they have glaucoma,” Timothy disclosed, adding, “About 10 percent are legally blind from glaucoma.”
Timothy said while glaucoma is incurable, Dominica is giving attention to control the illness.
“Your government has put in place measures to ensure that patients can access affordable treatment for glaucoma. Patients can access eye care at each of the seven health districts. Some of the glaucoma eye drops are compounded at the central medical stores, to ensure that it is readily available at no cost to the patients in each of their health districts,” he underscored.
World Glaucoma Day was established two years ago to increase public awareness with regards to the illness.
Radio talk shows among other activities have been planned in observance of World Glaucoma Week from March 7 to 13 in
Dominica.
DNO CORRESPONDENT.
i was diagnosed with the disease last year here in Dallasa, Tx. I’m dominican…..was shocked at the news.
Well we have the treament for Glaucoma already. i don’t know why people want to press the herb so much. i en abusing it, but whent he time approaches i taking my medi every now and again.
I know that GLAUCOMA is an eye disease and it isvery serious I know I have the disease and I on medication for the rest of my life, . I am glad to see the GOVERNMENT is trying to help those who have glaucoma by providing medication to all those who have it and I hope that they will embraced the oppertunity because living with the disease is very difficult on the individual and family. I encourage everyone to take the test because I do believe that it will be much more that 2 out of 100 people will or have it aready.. .
yes a good friend of mine lost his eye maybe 2 years ago to glaucoma, he is a st lucian however… but it is still worth being safe than sorry… what peter tosh say heal d glaucoma? somebody write an article for dat cure nah.
I was diagnosed with juvenile glaucoma at age 28. Let’s not be careless and just put an age or predisposition on it. I had a trabulectomy on my right eye at age 30 practically half the age of the so call at risk patient that’s how serious this is. IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE AN EYE EXAM AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE. It great that the Government is making these medications available at no charge to these patients. I have insurance and have tried so many these medications and the cost of these little bottle of drops are astronomical. Cudos to the GOVERNMENT OF DOMINICA. So important. GOOD INFORMATION BY “LOST” ABOVE.
@Stages: the statement TimTim made is based on statistics they have for that disease. You do not have to count every person. I suppose it would be better to say that “it is estimated that over 1600 persons in Dominica have Gaucoma”. Still, it is important to note that this means that 2 out of every 100 people in Dominica will go blind from glaucoma. This is significant.
You know what is good for Glaucoma right….Some Medical Mary J
Causes of Glaucoma
“Glaucoma is a disease characterized by elevated intraocular pressure, or IOP, which results in damage to the optic nerve. The factors that contribute to elevated IOP and optic nerve damage differ for each type of glaucoma. Awareness of the different causes and risk factors for glaucoma may help you identify the condition early on, as timely diagnosis of glaucoma is vital to preventing vision loss. The sections below contain information about the causes of various types of glaucoma.
Certain people are at a heightened risk of developing glaucoma. These include:
* African-Americans over 40 years of age
* People who have a family history of glaucoma
* Steroid users
* People with prior ocular injuries
* Patients with ocular hypertension
* People over 60 years of age
There are also several medical conditions that increase a person’s risk of glaucoma, including:
* Diabetes
* Hypothyroidism
* Leukemia
* Sickle cell anemia
* Arthritis”
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So if you are of African descent and over 60 years, you are already predisposed to have some form of glaucoma. Add Diabetes, arthritis, and high blood pressure, the risk factor increases exponentially.
It is advisable that a complete eye exam should be performed by the time you are 50 years old. Then on the advice of your Doctor, ophthalmologist, take the necessary steps to keep the disease in check.
REMEMBER…. YOUR EYE IS A TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE!
Tim just told us that over 1,600 Dominicans over the age of fifty are suffering from glaucoma and half of them do not know that.
This means that what Tim is saying is just not true.
Or should I asked, If half do not know they have it How does Tim know?