Clipping Board » Disease & Prevention ─ Understanding diseases, prevention is better than cure.
March 12, 2010, China Times, Lin Peiyi/Taipei Report
In response to World Glaucoma Day, the Taipei City Health Bureau held a public eye care campaign yesterday. Doctors noted a trend of glaucoma affecting younger individuals, with recent outpatient cases showing that 20% of patients are in their twenties. Additionally, one-third of children diagnosed with glaucoma developed the condition due to the use of steroid eye drops. The Health Bureau urged the public to take glaucoma seriously.
Liu Ruiling, director of the Glaucoma Department at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, stated that glaucoma was once considered a disease affecting only the elderly. However, recent outpatient data reveals that 20% of patients are in their twenties, most of whom are either severely nearsighted or have poor eye care habits.
A glaucoma screening conducted by Veterans General Hospital among residents aged 65 and above in Taipei's Shipai District found that 8.7% of the 460 participants had glaucoma. Shockingly, 68% were unaware of their condition before the screening.
According to Lü Dawen, director of Ophthalmology at Tri-Service General Hospital, by the time patients notice vision impairment, their optic nerve damage has already reached 40%. Statistics from the Taiwan Guide Dog Association show that one-third of the 29 guide dog users in Taiwan suffer from irreversible vision loss caused by glaucoma.
Lü Dawen advised that individuals with a family history of glaucoma should begin vision checkups at age 18, and those with myopia exceeding 600 degrees should also undergo regular eye exams. Furthermore, one-third of children with glaucoma developed the condition after long-term use of steroid eye drops for allergic conjunctivitis.
Source: http:/ / life. chinatimes. com/ 2……0302+112010031200059,00. html
Glaucoma Cases Surge 20% among Youth
In response to World Glaucoma Day, the Taipei City Health Bureau held a public eye care campaign yesterday. Doctors noted a trend of glaucoma affecting younger individuals, with recent outpatient cases showing that 20% of patients are in their twenties. Additionally, one-third of children diagnosed with glaucoma developed the condition due to the use of steroid eye drops. The Health Bureau urged the public to take glaucoma seriously.
Liu Ruiling, director of the Glaucoma Department at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, stated that glaucoma was once considered a disease affecting only the elderly. However, recent outpatient data reveals that 20% of patients are in their twenties, most of whom are either severely nearsighted or have poor eye care habits.
A glaucoma screening conducted by Veterans General Hospital among residents aged 65 and above in Taipei's Shipai District found that 8.7% of the 460 participants had glaucoma. Shockingly, 68% were unaware of their condition before the screening.
According to Lü Dawen, director of Ophthalmology at Tri-Service General Hospital, by the time patients notice vision impairment, their optic nerve damage has already reached 40%. Statistics from the Taiwan Guide Dog Association show that one-third of the 29 guide dog users in Taiwan suffer from irreversible vision loss caused by glaucoma.
Lü Dawen advised that individuals with a family history of glaucoma should begin vision checkups at age 18, and those with myopia exceeding 600 degrees should also undergo regular eye exams. Furthermore, one-third of children with glaucoma developed the condition after long-term use of steroid eye drops for allergic conjunctivitis.
Source: http:/ / life. chinatimes. com/ 2……0302+112010031200059,00. html