There is a very good reason why adults should think about having regular eye checks. It’s a disease called glaucoma which usually destroys eyesight so slowly and painlessly that people with the condition may not realise anything is wrong until much of their vision is lost. Glaucoma can’t be cured but early detection with regular eye tests every two years for people over 40 (or over 35 if you have high risk of the disease) can reduce damage to their vision. If treated early, most people with glaucoma can keep their sight for the rest of their lives.
Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in Australia. Although it’s more likely to affect people over 40, it can occur at any age and occasionally in children and young adults too. Anyone with a family history of glaucoma has a higher risk of developing the disease. If you have a parent or grandparent with a vision problem, it is important to find out what the cause is, just in case it is glaucoma.
Other risk factors for glaucoma include having diabetes, high blood pressure, migraine, being short-sighted, a previous eye injury, or using cortisone drugs (steroid) either now or in the past.
