Having your eyes checked, even as young children, is extremely important, according to optometrist Georgia Koumboulis, from Melbourne’s Q Eyewear Optometry.
“It’s important for everyone, especially people over 40 years old to definitely get their eyes looked at, even more so if there’s a history of eye problems in the family,” Mrs Koumboulis said.
Mrs Koumboulis is one of the optometrists getting behind World Sight Day, next Thursday, which is an international day of awareness around the global issue of avoidable blindness and vision impairment.
75 percent of vision loss in Australia is preventable or treatable and regular eye tests are essential for early detection of eye disease.
The Vision Initiative has been raising awareness of eye health and vision care to the general community and health professionals in Victoria since 2002, promoting a powerful “Save Your Sight – Get Tested” message.
“Vision is the most precious sense we have and it is vital we don’t take it for granted,” Mrs Koumboulis told Neos Kosmos.
“Regular eye examinations are your best protection against vision loss.”
Working as an optometrist for 23 years, Mrs Koumboulis said eye problems, like glaucoma, can sometimes be detected unexpectedly because the symptoms can be very subtle.
Glaucoma typically causes no pain or discomfort and does not affect central vision, so there is nothing to prompt a person from seeking and eye examination.
“I’ve had a few surprises, where people come in for a routine check and you might find something,” she said.
Early detection is vital, Mrs Koumboulis said. “Once the damage is done, vision loss can’t be reversed. Left untreated, glaucoma can lead to tunnel-vision and blindness,” she said.
Glaucoma can be managed usually with prescription eyedrops for the rest of your life. Sometimes special laser treatment or surgery may be required, Mrs Koumboulis added.
An increase in people working with computers all day in the office is not the cause of eye problems but can exacerbate them, Mrs Koumboulis said.
“If there’s an underlying problem with a person’s eyesight, computer work will push the eyes to the limit, and they may experience eye-strain which can lead to even headaches,” she said. “Computers don’t cause it, but to anyone with a pre-existing eye problem it adds to the problem.”