People over 40 and those with a family history of glaucoma should have regular eye exams to check for signs of the disease.
More than half of Australia's glaucoma cases remain undiagnosed according to University of Sydney Professor of Ophthalmology, Paul Healey. The alarming statistic underpins this year's World Glaucoma Week and confirms the perils of driving with the condition and the need for regular eye tests. Professor Paul Healey, who is director of Glaucoma Research at the Westmead Millennium Institute (Department of Ophthalmology, University of Sydney) said drivers with glaucoma have reduced peripheral vision which may prevent them from seeing cars close to them when pulling in or out of traffic or when overtaking. "Side vision loss, sensitivity to lights such as sunlight or night time headlight glare, blurred vision and an increase in near-miss crashes are all warning signals that should prompt the individual to seek professional help to evaluate their ability to drive responsibly," says Healey. Professor Healey who has been at the helm of the glaucoma research component of the Blue Mountains Eye Study (BMES), a longitudinal population-based study in ophthalmology, said the study has found that only half of the cases with signs of glaucoma have previously been diagnosed. The BMES had also confirmed many risk factors for the disease. "Your chances of having glaucoma increase dramatically with age.
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