By Shirley Thomas

ACTIVITIES in observance of World Glaucoma Week kicked off here on Monday with the launch of a glaucoma poster under the theme “Beat Invisible Glaucoma.”The poster was launched at the Eye Department of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), and was followed by the commencement of one week of free glaucoma testing at the same venue, which ended today.

The launch of the glaucoma poster was a joint initiative of the Ministry of Public Health; the GPHC; and Ansa McAl, which printed and assisted with the designing of the posters. Minister of Public Health, Dr George Norton, in brief remarks at the launching ceremony, congratulated the Eye Department for the activities that are being executed to benefit the people of Guyana in observance of World Glaucoma Week.

He also thanked Ansa McAl for the posters, which will be used to help boost public awareness.

Minister Norton is urging the pubic to come out and have their eyes, tested to see whether or not they have glaucoma. Glaucoma, even though common, can only be diagnosed by a specialist ophthalmologist, who would have undergone a fellowship in glaucoma studies.

Dr Norton pointed out that in testing for glaucoma, one does not look for just one sign. “You need at least five tests, and those have to be interpreted by somebody with the requisite amount of experience and competence in glaucoma,” he said.

“You need to know the thickness of the eye, the pressure of the eye, the structure of the eye, among other things, before you can actually put the patient on treatment; because, as you know, the treatment is for lifetime,” he added.

COMPLICATIONS
He, however, cautioned that treatment also has some side complications that may not be in the patient’s best interest. Therefore, it is important that the patient be diagnosed for glaucoma not by an optometrist, who gives spectacles, but by the specialist ophthalmologist who, in this case, is Dr. Shailendra Sugrim at the GPHC.

Doctor Sugrim, who has a fellowship in glaucoma, is being ably assisted by Drs Lammy, Allison and Hinds, as well as by Chinese doctors, Dr Norton said.

Glaucoma is prevalent in Guyana, as attested to by both Drs Norton and Sugrim. It is largely found in pigmented persons, as has been found in Barbados, St Lucia and Jamaica. In the Linden/Wismar area of Guyana, there is a high incidence of glaucoma as well.

The other important factor, Dr Norton said, is that the condition has a hereditary component, meaning that your mother, father or grandparents can have glaucoma and you can get it as well.

In this regard, he is encouraging persons to come out and get tested.

VISION LOSS
Cataract, on the other hand, by far outweighs the prevalence of glaucoma in Guyana. “But the difference with cataract,” Dr Norton noted, “is that you can be almost completely blind, and with surgery, within a matter of about 15 minutes, you can regain your sight.

“But with glaucoma, the vision loss is irreversible because it comes about through nerve damage. So we have to try to prevent you from losing vision, in order to maintain your sight.”

Dr Sugrim added that although studies have not yet been done to determine the prevalence of glaucoma in Guyana, there is need for intervention. “From our practical experience here, we find that it is very common indeed; and in Afro-Guyanese communities.
“We think there is a high incidence here, that is why this week is dedicated to public awareness; why our poster slogan says: ‘You may have glaucoma and you may NOT know it’.”

Glaucoma is an eye condition that silently and permanently damages the optic nerve of the eye, slowly over the years, until the entire nerve is destroyed, Dr Sugrim said. He said individuals 40 and over are invited for screening, and persons over 60 should be screened at least once per year.

Also collaborating with the initiative is Eye Care Guyana (ECG), and representing that entity at the launch was Pastor Charles Vandyke, National Programme Manager. ECG, which works with the GPHC and the Ministry of Public Health, is headquartered in Charlotte Street. It also collaborates with other hospitals and eye-care institutions in Guyana. ECG provides equipment, low-cost spectacles, training for personnel, and whatever else is needed for the prevention of blindness.

“For glaucoma, we arrange for the specialised training of two doctors: Dr Shailendra Sugrim and Dr Sarju, who both work at the Georgetown Public Hospital Eye Department. We have also trained other doctors in ophthalmology.

“Personnel performing checks for vision are trained and paid through funding Eye Care Guyana receives from organisations,” Vandyke told the Guyana Chronicle.