One of the leading causes of blindness in both the United States and the world often blind-sides its victims. So subtle is the onset of glaucoma that many patients don’t even realize they have it until they find themselves with
One of the leading causes of blindness in both the United States and the world often blind-sides its victims.
So subtle is the onset of glaucoma that many patients don’t even realize they have it until they find themselves with tunnel vision, and their peripheral vision is virtually nonexistent, said Dr. Stephen E. Clason, a Honolulu ophthalmologist and leader with The Hawaii Ophthalmological Society.
Detected and treated early, however, the debilitating disease can be treated with simple, self-administered daily eye drops, he said.
Left untreated or found after it has advanced, the alternatives become surgical, either in the form of lasers to relieve eye pressure, or more complicated surgery, he explained.
In order to encourage regular eye exams, increase the awareness that only through eye exams is glaucoma detected, and educate the public about the risk factors for glaucoma, the two Kaua‘i members of The Hawaii Ophthalmological Society, Dr. Timothy B. Crane of Crane Eye Care and Dr. Larry Sherrer of Pacific Eyewear, are offering free glaucoma screenings at their Lihu‘e offices this Wednesday, Jan. 12, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. No appointments are necessary.
Crane’s office is in the Hana Kukui Building in Kukui Grove Village West (the same building where Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative is located), and Sherrer’s offices are in Kukui Grove Professional Village, across Kukui Grove Street from the Kukui Grove 4 Cinemas.
Sherrer teams with dentist Dr. Greg Naganuma each Christmas Eve to offer free eye and dental care to those in need of it without the ability to pay for such care.
At the Wednesday free screenings, doctors will advise people if they need more work. Leaders at Longs Drug Stores are co-sponsors of the free event, along with The American Academy of Ophthalmology and The Hawaii Ophthalmological Society, part of National Eye Care Month.
Sherrer is conducting the screenings at his office. Dr. Joel Punzal will do the honors in Crane’s offices.
Clason explained that ophthalmologists are medical doctors who specialize in eye treatment and care, as opposed to optometrists, who are doctors but not medical doctors (MDs).
“Glaucoma is a ‘silent disease’ in most patients. It is similar to high blood pressure,” said Clason. “A person can have it and not know it because in most cases there is no pain or symptoms that can tip a patient off.
“It slowly eats away at your peripheral vision,” he said. “The only way to detect glaucoma is with an eye exam.”
The most common glaucoma is too much pressure in the eyes, he explained.
For more information, please call Pacific Eyewear, 245-5377, or 246-0110.
Paul C. Curtis, associate editor, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@pulitzer.net.
