On the eve of World Glaucoma Day, results from a recent CNIB survey suggest many Canadians lack critical knowledge about this serious eye condition and are not taking the necessary steps to detect it early.
The survey found that Canadians over the age of 40 hold significant misconceptions about glaucoma, the second-leading cause of vision loss among seniors in Canada. Seventy per cent of respondents incorrectly believed that glaucoma has associated symptoms, with a third associating the disease with pain or a change in how their eyes feel. In fact, glaucoma - commonly known as the "silent thief" - is usually painless and progresses without noticeable symptoms. This progression can lead to serious vision loss and total blindness.
"It's possible to have glaucoma and not even know it," says Dr. Keith Gordon, Vice President of Research, CNIB. "In fact, only half of the 250,000 Canadians living with glaucoma are aware they have this serious disease."
The survey also found that close to a third (28 per cent) of respondents have not had their eyes examined in the past two years, despite the fact that an overwhelming majority (88 per cent) name sight as the most important of their five senses.
Unfortunately, many Canadians do not learn they have glaucoma until it's too late. Although 60 per cent of respondents believe glaucoma is curable, the reality is that the disease cannot be cured and, if not treated, can lead to progressive and permanent vision loss. However, when detected early, treatment options are available to control the disease and prevent it from progressing.
"Regular eye examinations by an eye doctor are the best way to maintain vision health and prevent glaucoma from sneaking up on you," says Dr. Yvonne Buys, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Toronto and president of the Canadian Glaucoma Society.
Contest asks Canadians what they care about the most
To raise awareness about glaucoma and the importance of early detection, CNIB is launching a nationwide initiative called Eye Care About You. Beginning March 9, Canadians can visit [url=http://www.eyecareaboutyou.ca]http://www.eyecareaboutyou.ca[/url] to learn the facts on glaucoma and participate in an online photo contest to win a grand prize of photography equipment valued at $3,000. Entrants are asked to upload a photograph depicting the people, places or things they care about, along with a description of why that image is important to them.
About the survey
This survey was conducted as part of CNIB's Eye Care About You campaign in order to determine how much Canadians know about glaucoma and its risk factors. 800 Canadians aged 40 and up answered an online survey. Survey results from a sample of Canadians of this size can be considered accurate to +/- 3.4 per cent, 19 times out of 20. The survey was undertaken by CNIB in collaboration with Babcock Consultants, with data collection by Research Now. Eye Care About You is supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Pfizer Canada Inc.
About CNIB
CNIB is a nationwide, community-based, registered charity committed to public education, research and the vision health of all Canadians. CNIB provides the services and support necessary to enjoy a good quality of life while living with vision loss. To find out more, visit [url=http://www.cnib.ca]http://www.cnib.ca[/url] or call 1-800-563-2642.
For more information, visit [url=http://www.eyecareaboutyou.ca]http://www.eyecareaboutyou.ca[/url].
