The main medical entities in Argentina organize this Friday the 13th a national day of free exams in more than 130 institutions in the country to facilitate access to ophthalmological control. The drop in preventive consultations during the pandemic caused a spike in serious cases with irreversible blindness. Specialists demand annual reviews for timely diagnosis.
The condition arises from an alteration or blockage of the aqueous humor drainagea clear fluid nourishes the eye, the accumulation of which raises intraocular pressure and damages the optic nerve.
The Argentine Council of Ophthalmology defines the disease as a “stealth thief of vision”since the lesion progresses without early signs and patients see blurred or have difficulty focusing even with corrective glasses on. Loss of peripheral vision appears in advanced stages with or without eye pain, which is why early detection It slows down the evolution of visual damage and prevents blindness.
Gabriel Bercovichvice president of the Argentine Glaucoma Association, points out the need for annual exams from the age of 40 through an official statement. “The problem is that, generally, it does not cause symptoms, It does not hurt and does not give early signsso many times we arrive late to the diagnosis when the damage is already irreversible,” warns the doctor.
The risk increases at that age or earlier in the presence of direct relatives with the pathology. Other triggers include high intraocular pressure, myopia, high hyperopia, and the use of corticosteroids. The poorly controlled diabetes represents the most serious comorbidity in the progression of the clinical picture.
María Angélica Moussallia staff doctor at the Ophthalmology Service of the Italian Hospital, warns about the use of prescription glasses Massively sold without a prescription. “Glaucoma is a silent disease that is detected in the ophthalmologist’s office. People with presbyopia (difficulty seeing up close) or with blurred vision buy glasses on the corner to correct it. But if these people do not go to the ophthalmologist, they cannot know if they have another problem,” explains Moussalli.
The lack of regular medical care caused a peak of cases in the country. The pathology affects a percentage of between 3% and 4% of Argentines, a growth that Moussalli notes post-pandemic, since people prioritized work and postponed medical care. The specialist team serves 100 patients daily from Monday to Friday. “There are more than a thousand patients per month! It is a very high number,” details the professional.
Recent surveys of ophthalmological entities show a high level of ignorance. He 50% of Argentine adults ignore the details of the condition. A similar proportion never had their eye pressure measured in the last five years despite frequent contact with the health system.
Those over 65 years of age attend clinics more frequently, while patients between 40 and 60 years of age arrive at their first examination with severe visual impairment due to time or lack of coverage. “There are drivers who drive with tunnel vision (what one sees from the outside to the inside shrinks) because the evaluation to renew the registration does not detect glaucoma and they are not aware of their limitation,” the doctor said.
The World awareness week on this pathology started last Sunday, where more than 130 public and private institutions offer open eye controls to the general population this Friday the 13th. Free medical care omits the requirement for a prior appointment or health coverage.
The 26th national detection campaign It is coordinated by the Argentine Council of Ophthalmology, the Argentine Glaucoma Association and the Glaucoma Research Foundation. Professionals take eye pressure, look at the optic nerve, and provide feedback on the results.
He Italian Hospital participates in the event at its headquarters in the Buenos Aires neighborhood of Almagro and the Buenos Aires town of San Justo. Specialists receive patients in order of arrival between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m..
Medical follow-up requires a frequency of once or twice a year after diagnosis for life.. “Treatment and regular supervision make it possible to maintain a good quality of life and avoid progression towards blindness,” concludes the Argentine Glaucoma Association.
This content was produced by a LA NACION team with the assistance of AI from a article signed by Fabiola Czubaj.
