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Eye Health in Our Community Common Conditions, How we can all help. Andrew Crawford Ophthalmologist Diamond Valley Eye Clinic. Community Eye Health. Community Eye Health. “Check your macula” “Take your vitamins” “Don’t Smoke” “Do / Don’t eat margarine” “Do / Don’t drink red wine”
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Eye Health in Our CommunityCommon Conditions, How we can all help Andrew CrawfordOphthalmologistDiamond Valley Eye Clinic
Community Eye Health “Check your macula” “Take your vitamins” “Don’t Smoke” “Do / Don’t eat margarine” “Do / Don’t drink red wine” What does it all mean, How can we all help?
Community Eye HealthVisual Impairment in our Community Wrong Glasses / No Glasses
Community Eye HealthVisual Impairment in our Community Wrong Glasses / No Glasses Cataract Diabetic Eye Disease Glaucoma Macular Degeneration
Cataract • A Technological Success Story • Artificial replacement of a worn-out lens • Surgery is suitable for all who have significant symptoms • Waiting to be ready/ripe is historic • “If you’re fit for a haircut, you’re fit for a cataract operation”
Diabetic Eye Disease Diabetes is a huge and growing numerical problem Uncontrolled diabetes damages blood vessels
Diabetic Eye Disease Diabetes is a huge and growing numerical problem Uncontrolled diabetes damages blood vessels Uncontrolled Sugar Uncontrolled Blood Pressure Uncontrolled Cholesterol
Diabetic Eye Disease • A slow, insidious process • Course is over many months – years • Generally few symptoms, unless/until macula is involved
Diabetic Eye Disease • Primary TreatmentControl Sugar, Blood Press, Cholest • Secondary Treatment • Laser and/or Injections • Management Strategy • Control Sugar, BP, Cholesterol • 2-yearly checks for asymptomatic Disease • Report central visual loss without delay
Diabetic Eye Disease • A Constant Struggle • Sugar, Blood Pressure, Cholesterol • Help is at hand, when needed • Regular Checks to detect asymptomatic problems • Report major change in vision
Glaucoma • Gradual thinning of the optic nerve • Precipitated, or worsened, by high pressure in the eye • Treated by lifelong lowering of eye pressure • Eyedrops, laser and/or surgery • 2% of population • Family History is an important risk
Glaucoma “The Sneak Thief of Sight” Painless Few Visual Symptoms until late stage
Glaucoma • Treatment • Generally aimed at lowering eye pressure • Eyedrops • Modern drops are very effective • Treatment is lifelong • Laser • Surgery
Glaucoma • Management Strategy • Diagnosis • If Family History, screen 10 yrs earlier • Screen everyone 2-yrly after 60yo • Treatment Compliance • Eyedrops regularly, for life
Age-Related Macular DegenerationARMD • Early ARMD • Macular Wear & Tear, “The Old Bedsheet” • Slow, gradual process • Dry ARMD • Wear & Tear “runs into holes” • Increased rate of deterioration • Wet ARMD • New Blood Vessels sprout, leak, bleed • Sudden and severe visual loss
Wet ARMD - Injections • Injection Treatment • Generally very effective • Years of treatment, 1-2 monthly • Over $2000/treatment, $20,000/year/eye • Capacity and Funding are limited • Financial, Political and Ethical dilemma
Dry ARMD 90% of ARMD is Dry
Dry ARMD • 90% of ARMD is Dry • There is no highly effective treatment • Diet may be a small help • Supplements are smaller help if good diet • Experimental Laser in Melbourne
ARMD • Management Strategy • Reduce Risk • Don’t Smoke • Follow MD Diet – Green Leafy + Yellow Corn • Check for Early ARMD • If present, be alert for sudden visual change and report this without delay
