This disease leads to blindness. Check if you are at risk for glaucoma

According to the portal swiatprzychodni.pl, the average waiting time for an appointment with an ophthalmologist at the National Health Fund is 193 days. Some institutions have longer deadlines.

For the seventh time, the Polish Society of Ophthalmologists organizes the preventive action. Its goal is to raise public awareness of glaucoma and increase its early detection. Over 13,000 people have been tested in previous editions of the campaign. Patients. As many as 40 percent of them needed further diagnosis.

Free consultations began on Monday and will last until Saturday (March 18). These include examining the structure of the fundus, corneal thickness, intraocular pressure, and history.

Glaucoma - what is this disease?

Glaucoma is the second most common cause of blindness in developed countries after cataracts. According to WHO, glaucoma is more dangerous than cataracts because its consequences are irreversible. Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve. Cause? Increased intraocular pressure. The most common form of the disease in Europe is open-angle glaucoma, characterized by a slow course without clear symptoms. It is estimated that 2 percent of the population suffers from it, but the number of patients is constantly increasing.

Glaucoma is a binocular disease, but asymmetric, which means that a healthier eye compensates for the loss of vision.

Who gets glaucoma?

The problem of glaucoma in Poland can reach 800 thousand Poles, only half of them are diagnosed. Anyone can survive. The risk of developing the disease increases with age.

Risk factors for glaucoma

Factors that increase the risk of glaucoma include:

• age over 40 years old,

• family history of glaucoma

• myopia,

• increased intraocular pressure,

• diabetes,

• circulatory diseases,

• cardiological diseases.

People at risk should be screened for glaucoma every 12 months, others once every two years.

Symptoms of glaucoma

In 90 percent of cases, the disease is asymptomatic in most cases, but early diagnosis avoids complete loss of vision. At a later stage of the disease, the following symptoms appear:

• cloudy vision, as if behind a fog,

• decreased visual acuity,

• photophobia,

• watery eyes,

• narrowing of the field of view

• dark spots before the eyes.

How is glaucoma treated in Poland?

Most often begins with pharmacological treatment. In more advanced cases, laser treatment or surgery may be used. Therapy consists primarily in reducing intraocular pressure.

How can I register for the study?

The action involves 65 medical offices from 36 cities in Poland. To check if an office from your city is participating in the campaign, go to www.tydzienjaskry.pl. For example, there are five such branches in the Lubuskie Voivodeship, and six in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. Then call the institution at the number provided.

The promotion of free examinations is held from March 12 to March 18, 2023. The visit is available for patients who made an appointment by phone on the dates indicated by the selected clinic.