OVER 200 patients benefited from free screening for Glaucoma during World Glaucoma Week which was observed last week.

According to Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC)’s Ophthalmology Department, Glaucoma screening sessions were conducted from March 11 to March 15 from 12:00hrs to 14:00hrs at the eye clinic. The staff ophthalmologists on a daily basis screened approximately 40 patients per day culminating in a total of 205 patients seen during last week.

According to the hospital, 11 patients were Glaucoma suspects and were recommended for further evaluation.

One patient was confirmed to be suffering from Glaucoma. The hospital staff, including clerks, nurses, optometrists, physicians and ophthalmologists, undertook routine Glaucoma investigations such as vision testing, eye pressure testing (tonometry) and examination of the eye nerve (funduscopy).

In collaboration with Medi Pharm Inc., the Department of Ophthalmology designed a Glaucoma poster to spread awareness about Glaucoma to the general public.
Distribution of the posters have commenced and they will be distributed countrywide and they will encourage patients to have their eyes screened for Glaucoma. Medi Pharma is a local Pharmaceutical Distribution Company with interest in health education and public awareness.

The GPHC said Open Angle Glaucoma is the most common form of Glaucoma here. Over the past years, patients at the hospital have been exposed to the two common methods of treating glaucoma which are medications (eye-drops), laser procedures and glaucoma surgery. “This World Glaucoma Week campaign was chosen because of the fact that many people suffer with Glaucoma and they still do not know it! It’s called “invisible” Glaucoma because the disease acts silently by causing damage to the optic nerve (the eye nerve which allows us to see the world) without the patient having any notable symptoms,” said the hospital in a press release.

“Bit by bit over the years this damage continues, unknown to the patient, until almost the entire nerve is destroyed. This nerve damage called glaucomatous optic neuropathy is permanent and cannot be reversed. Hence, at that time when the patient begins to start experiencing visual symptoms, they would already have had significant nerve damage. Thus, the need for early screening of the disease,” the release added.

Once Glaucoma is diagnosed early, treatment can prevent blindness. At the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, the Department of Ophthalmology offers service for diagnosing and treating Glaucoma. The hospital offers daily eye clinics on weekdays where patients can be given eye examinations for the detection of Glaucoma. Patients need to be referred to the hospital before they can obtain an appointment for any service. These referrals can be obtained from their general physicians.