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Optician bids to save sight in East Lothian by raising Glaucoma awareness

June 2009

Montgomery Optometrists, a Kodak Lens Vision Centre based in Musselburgh, Tranent, Prestonpans and Haddington, is urging residents to prevent blindness with a simple eye test.

The call for action coincides with National Glaucoma Awareness Week.

The call for action by practice owners Brian Montgomery and Margaret Goldberg coincides with National Glaucoma Awareness Week, June 8 to 14th, a week dedicated to raising people's awareness about the leading cause of blindness in the UK. Glaucoma is a silent disease with no warning symptoms and it can cause the loss of up to 40% of vision before any effects are noticed.

Glaucoma affects 2% of the population over the age 40, half of which are unaware they have the condition.

"Regular eye tests enable early detection of glaucoma which is vital in order to prevent the loss of a person's sight. That is why we wholeheartedly support National Glaucoma" (Brian Montgomery, Montgomery Optometrists KLVC, East Lothian)

Mr Montgomery is alarmed at how few people in the categories most at risk from glaucoma, take advantage of the free vision tests which they are entitled to in Scotland.

During National Glaucoma Awareness week (June 8 to 14th) people with a family history of Glaucoma can receive a free retinal imaging examination at Montgomery Optometrists KODAK Lens Vision Centre.

Why not call or email today for advice about sunglasses or to book your FREE NHS eye test?

More information on Glaucoma follows below:

  • Glaucoma affects 2% of the population over the age of forty
  • Half of those who have glaucoma are unaware of their condition
  • Glaucoma is a leading cause of preventable blindness in the UK today
  • 95% of the sensory input to the brain required for driving comes from vision
  • Glaucoma damages the off centre parts of the field of vision first and leaves the central detailed vision until the late stages of the condition, so a person who has moderately advanced glaucoma might still be able to read the bottom line of the sight chart perfectly well. This off centre damage is not noticed, partly because we use our central vision most of the time and partly because the brain can complete its trick of using one eye to fill in for the other.
  • Glaucoma accounts for 13-14% of the people on the blind register in England and Wales.
  • Damage caused by glaucoma cannot be recovered
  • Glaucoma can be treated effectively and further visual loss prevented in most cases
  • Early detection is the key to the control of glaucomatous visual loss
  • Everybody should have an eye test at least every 2 years but people who are over the age of 60 and people at higher risk should have an eye test every year
  • Detection requires the use of three tests:
    - Ophthalmoscopy (a visual examination of the optic nerve head using an ophthalmoscope or slit lamp microscope)
    - Tonometery (a measurement of the pressure within the eye – the intraocular pressure)
    - Perimetry (a check of the field of vision for damage caused by glaucoma)
  • Treatment of glaucoma will usually be with eye drops, but may include laser or surgery if necessary
  • People who qualify for a free NHS sight test are those who:
    - are aged 60 or over,
    - are under 16 (or under 19 and in full time education),
    - live in Scotland,
    - receive (or whose partners receive) income support, family credit, income based job seekers allowance, pension credit guarantee, and are entitled to or named on a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate, or are named on valid HC2 certificate,
    - have diabetes or glaucoma,
    - are 40 or over and have a close relative with glaucoma (i.e. brother, sister, or parents),
    - a hospital ophthalmologist says they are at risk of glaucoma and he/she wants them to have regular community based tests to check for the development of the condition,
    - are registered blind or partially sighted,
    - are entitled to vouchers for complex lenses.

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