|
Only 27
percent of Americans say they have heard of ocular hypertension,
a condition without symptoms that can lead to glaucoma.
Even more
alarming, according to a national survey of 2,037 Americans,
only seven percent of those aware of ocular hypertension knew
that it has no symptoms. Also, only 29 percent of those surveyed
who are at an increased risk for ocular hypertension -- those
aged 40 and older -- were aware of the disease or the need
for regular screening.
"Estimates
of the number of people in the U.S. suffering from ocular
hypertension range from 3 to 6 million," said Dr. Kuldev
Singh, Director of the Glaucoma Service at Stanford University
School of Medicine. "Since ocular hypertension is usually
not associated with symptoms, most individuals with the condition
are unaware that they have a problem. That's why individuals
aged 40 and older should see their eye doctors for annual
exams to determine if ocular hypertension is present and whether
treatment is needed to decrease the risk of developing glaucoma."
When intraocular
pressure is elevated, a person is at greater risk for developing
glaucoma, a disease causing optic nerve damage that leads
to visual impairment. Only 41 percent of those surveyed could
identify ocular hypertension as a factor that increased the
risk of glaucoma.
Only 19
percent of those surveyed from the over-40 age group knew
that routine screening was recommended for ocular hypertension.
Also, 41 percent of the same group had not been tested for
ocular hypertension or glaucoma in the past year.
Drugs
that lower blood pressure called beta-blockers are commonly
used to treat ocular hypertension.
Source:
Medical Week staff,
week of June 30, 2002
|
HOME PAGE
