- It is estimated that at least 2.2 billion people in the world are visually impaired or blind.
- In its most advanced stage, glaucoma causes irreversible blindness, although if it is identified early there are care options.
- From the age of 40, it is recommended to go for a review with an ophthalmologist annually.
Visual health is essential to achieve an optimal state of well-being, but the problem is that it is not always given enough attention. The lack of interest causes the development of serious diseases such as glaucoma that is considered the leading cause of irreversible blindness in Mexico and the world. And then, what can be done to prevent its appearance?
According to ophthalmologist Fernando Rodríguez Dennen, who is an academic at the UNAM School of Medicine, the main risk factor for its appearance is age. The older a person is, the more likely they are to develop it.
Why is it generated?
He adds that the glaucoma is preventable if caught early; however, because it has no symptoms, many people realize they have it when it is in its terminal stages (blindness). It is also considered a problem for older adults, although it affects people over 40 years of age.
“It is a disease that must be taken into account, since it is known to affect between three and four percent of the population, and one in five people over 80 years of age will have some degree of glaucoma.”
For its part, every March 12 commemorates the World Day Against Glaucoma. The anniversary was established in 2008 by the World Glaucoma Association (WCA) and endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO), which in 2019 presented the First World Report on vision. It revealed that at least two thousand 200 million people on the planet are visually impaired or blind, of which at least one billion could have avoided reaching this result.
“When you are already in terminal or advanced glaucoma, there is not much to do because the therapeutic options are very limited. That is why it is currently something very important to go for a review more frequently and value people, especially the elderly. I would recommend that those over the age of 40 be checked at least once a year by an ophthalmologist.”
According to the specialist, the Glaucoma refers to a group of eye disorders that lead to what is known as optic neuropathy., which is characterized by problems in the function of the optic nerve and is classified into two large groups: primary (open angle, normal tension, closed angle and congenital); and the secondary (neurovascular, pigmentary, exfoliation and uveitic).
“There are many diseases related to glaucoma. So, you have to understand that it does not only refer to a disease, but to a group of diseases that cause damage to the optic nerve, for example diabetes, hypertension, certain diseases such as Alzheimer’s”.
It is known that vascular conditions can contribute to exacerbate cases of this problem, especially the so-called normal tension glaucoma. One of the most common in the Mexican, and its development has been associated with factors such as pollution, or caffeine consumption, although it has not been proven. What is a fact, asserts the university student, is that its occurrence has increased.
How much does your medical care cost?
A study carried out by doctors from Nuevo León and published in the Mexican Journal of Ophthalmology, It refers that people diagnosed can invest more than 16 thousand pesos in the first year, after detection. Considering that there are those who face it between the ages of 40 and 65, the cost shoots up to more than 11 million pesos.
50 percent of those who have glaucoma in the world are not diagnosed. In fact, in many cases the presence of cataracts (a type of reversible blindness) is often confused with severe glaucoma, which is why, although it is not common to request an annual review, it is important to do so.
Also read:
Blindness, cataracts and glaucoma, the most frequent vision problems in Mexico
Glaucoma in Mexico: Half of the cases are not diagnosed
Diabetic retinopathy, the main cause of blindness in Mexico