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Doctors urge risk groups to use free glaucoma testing

While glaucoma is the second-most common cause of blindness worldwide, it is the leading cause of blindness in Taiwan, doctors said yesterday in an attempt to raise awareness of the importance of screening for glaucoma.

"Unlike cataracts, the leading cause of blindness worldwide, damage to vision caused by glaucoma is irreversible," said Liu Rui-ling (劉瑞玲), Taipei Veteran's Hospital's glaucoma specialist.

It is estimated that 300,000 people in Taiwan have glaucoma. However, because the early stages of glaucoma do not have obvious symptoms, most sufferers do not seek medical attention in time.

Since glaucoma screening is free under the National Health Insurance system, Liu and Lu Da-wen (呂大文), a glaucoma specialist at Tri-Veterans' General Hospital, urged those at risk from the condition to get tested.

At risk groups include those who have family members suffering from glaucoma, experienced an unexplained deterioration in their eyesight or have poor night vision, those suffering from chronic headaches, high blood pressure or diabetes and those above the age of 40.
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