Bluebird Care Islington & Hackney Supports Glaucoma Awareness Month 2021

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month and Bluebird Care Islington & Hackney is backing the campaign.

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month and Bluebird Care Islington & Hackney is backing the campaign.

Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions where the optic nerve connecting the eye to the brain becomes damaged. It is usually caused by increased pressure inside the eye due to fluid build-up in the front part of the eye. If glaucoma is not diagnosed and managed early, it can result in vision loss. Although glaucoma can affect all ages, it’s most prevalent in the elderly in their 70s and 80s.

The World Health Organisation estimates that roughly 60 million people globally have glaucoma and almost half of them do not know they have the condition.

Usually glaucoma does not cause any symptoms but develops slowly over many years. Both eyes are affected but it can be worse in 1 eye.

Symptoms of Glaucoma can include:

·         Blurred vision

·         Rainbow-coloured circles around bright lights

If Glaucoma develops quickly, it can cause:

·         Extreme eye pain

·         Nausea and vomiting

·         Red eye

·         Headache

·         Tenderness around eyes

·         Blurred vision

·         Seeing rings around lights

Glaucoma is more prevalent as age increases or if you have other medical illnesses e.g. diabetes and eye conditions. It is more common in people of African, Caribbean or Asian origin and if you have family history of the condition.

Glaucoma can be treated with eye drops, laser treatment or surgery, although any loss of vision prior to diagnosis cannot be restored. The NHS recommends a routine eye check every 2 years in which Glaucoma can be detected. Please contact your GP if you have vision concerns.

Michael Hackett, Director of Bluebird Care Islington & Hackney, commented:

“Glaucoma is one of the leading causes for vision loss and blindness in the UK. According to the NHS, about 480,000 people in England have chronic open-angle glaucoma.

It is vital to have regular eye checkups and contact your GP if you have any vision problems. We can all raise awareness of glaucoma by reading about the condition and talking to friends and family about it.”  

For more information about glaucoma, please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/glaucoma/

The World Health Organisation recently released a report on vision. You can read it here: https://www.who.int/news/item/08-10-2019-who-launches-first-world-report-on-vision

Bluebird Care is a leading, award-winning provider of home and live in care, specialising in working with customers who live with dementia, physical disabilities and many other acute and chronic conditions. Bluebird Care work alongside their customers’ families, social services and the NHS to ensure each person receives the care they need.

Bluebird Care offers a unique service of tailored care visits which range from anything from 30 minutes to full live-in support. As well as personal care they also help with meal preparation, welfare checks, shopping, social trips, visits to the hospital and provide extra support for post-discharge customers.

For more details about Bluebird Care Islington & Hackney by calling 020 3589 7799, emailing islington@bluebirdcare.co.uk, or by visiting their website  https://www.bluebirdcare.co.uk/islington-hackney/home