Lions recycle glasses

(CNS): Last month the Lions Club of Tropical Gardens marked the Glaucoma Awareness campaign by recycling Eyeglasses. The club packed 254 pairs of glasses for the Lions International recycling project and will continue to collect them over the coming weeks. The Lions are also urging local people to get tested in order to detect the condition at the earliest possible time to prevent severe loss of vision.

The Lions explained that Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases in which the pressure inside the eye may or may not be elevated. This disease occurs when the normal fluid pressure inside the eyes slowly rises. Without treatment, people will slowly lose their peripheral (side) vision. Over time, straight-ahead vision may decrease until no vision remains. Glaucoma can develop in one or both eyes. The most common form of the disease is open angle glaucoma.

In open angle glaucoma the normal fluid pressure inside the eye progressively increases. With glaucoma, there are no initial symptoms. Vision stays normal, and there is no pain. However, as the disease progresses, a person with glaucoma may notice his or her side vision gradually failing. That is, objects in front may still be seen clearly, but objects to the side may be missed. As the disease worsens the field of vision narrows and blindness results. Detection comes from regular dilated pupil eye exams.
If glaucoma is detected and treated early, it usually can be controlled before severe vision loss occurs. Many people at high risk for glaucoma are unaware that they could be going blind.

The club explained that some groups are at higher risk of developing the condition such as where there is a family history of Glaucoma as it is hereditary. People over the age of sixty and those not receiving regular health care also face a higher risk. The Lions urge people to be tested as without a dilated pupil eye exam every two years, vague symptoms may go unnoticed until it’s too late and the disease has progressed to a severe stage. Many times, there are no symptoms in the early stages of the disease.