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Experts hope Asian Glaucoma guidelines will prevent blindness
Hong Kong, Nov 28: The first ever set of guidelines for specifically diagnosing and treating Glaucoma in Asians has been developed, a leading eye doctor said today, in a move medics hope will prevent millions being blinded by the eye disease.
Hong Kong, Nov 28: The first ever set of guidelines for specifically diagnosing and treating Glaucoma in Asians has been developed, a leading eye doctor said today, in a move medics hope will prevent millions being blinded by the eye disease.
Dr Ivan Goldberg, president of the South East Asia Glaucoma Interest Group (SEAFIG), which formulated the guidelines, said the guidelines were essential in halting the number of people in Asia being blinded by the disease.
"Glaucoma is second to cataracts as the main cause of blindness in the world. But whereas cataracts can be removed, once you are blind from glaucoma it is impossible to reverse. That's why the guidelines are important," said Goldberg.
In the past doctors relied on treatment guidelines from western countries to treat Asians.
However, differences between the eyes of Asians and westerners, in particular the size of the eyeballs which determine what form of glaucoma a person contracts, often led to the treatment being ineffective, he told news agencies.
As a result, SEAFIG developed a set of guidelines aimed specifically at helping eye specialists identify the problem in Asians which will be launched officially at the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalamogy in Bangkok tomorrow.
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that gradually cause blindness without warning and often without symptoms making quick, accurate diagnosis essential.
Bureau Report
"Glaucoma is second to cataracts as the main cause of blindness in the world. But whereas cataracts can be removed, once you are blind from glaucoma it is impossible to reverse. That's why the guidelines are important," said Goldberg.
In the past doctors relied on treatment guidelines from western countries to treat Asians.
However, differences between the eyes of Asians and westerners, in particular the size of the eyeballs which determine what form of glaucoma a person contracts, often led to the treatment being ineffective, he told news agencies.
As a result, SEAFIG developed a set of guidelines aimed specifically at helping eye specialists identify the problem in Asians which will be launched officially at the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalamogy in Bangkok tomorrow.
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that gradually cause blindness without warning and often without symptoms making quick, accurate diagnosis essential.
Bureau Report