More than two million Americans are suffering from glaucoma, and nearly half of them don’t even know it. Because glaucoma is a significant cause of blindness in America, employers have reason to be concerned about employees who may be suffering from the disease but who aren’t being properly treated.
There’s a perception that glaucoma only affects the elderly. However, the number of people in their 40s suffering from glaucoma has doubled in recent years. And it’s something that everyone should be regularly screened for, says Julie Sich, health promotions coordinator for SummaCare, Inc.
“Younger people can be affected so the chances that an employee is suffering from glaucoma increase as the work population ages,” says Sich. “Employers can help address this problem by offering glaucoma screenings as part of their occupational health assessments. Or they can encourage employees to get tested on their own.”
Smart Business spoke with Sich about how employers can encourage glaucoma screenings and how early detection can help save the sight of their employees.
What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a term used to identify a group of eye diseases that can lead to the permanent loss of vision as a result of damage to the optic nerve. It is the leading cause of blindness. And because onset is gradual, the individual may not be aware of its presence until the loss of vision has begun.
Causes include heredity, blockages in the channels of the eye, diabetes and use of steroids, such as with an asthma inhaler.
Why should employers be concerned about early detection of glaucoma among their employees?
Early detection is key to preserving sight and, hence, maintaining safety in the workplace. The symptoms of the disease may go unnoticed early on. As a result, an individual might not become aware of a problem until damage to eyesight has been done and cannot be reversed. Because the onset is so gradual, the employee may not realize his or her vision isn’t as sharp as it once was. That could prove a danger to the employee or to other employees.
Who should be screened?
It is recommended that screening be done at least once between ages 20 and 29, and at least twice between the ages of 30 and 39. Between the ages of 40 and 64, screening should be done every two to four years. After age 65, screening should be done every one to two years. However, those who are at increased risk should be screened yearly.
Those at risk include African Americans, among whom glaucoma is six to eight times more likely than in Caucasians. Those older than 60 and with a family history of the disease also face increased risk. Other risk factors include being of East Asian descent, being farsighted, having suffered an eye injury or undergone eye surgery, such as for cataracts. Anyone with high blood pressure or diabetes, or anyone who has been taking corticosteroid medicines is also at increased risk.
What are the benefits of regular screenings?
Screenings can provide an early diagnosis, which can result in a cost savings in treatment later down the road. Because the cost of treatment increases with the severity of the disease, early detection can result in substantial savings. In addition, with early detection, the disease can be kept under control with medication, and vision can be maintained for a longer period of time.
How is the disease diagnosed?
Screening is quick, simple and painless and should be done by an optometrist or ophthalmologist. Testing is often available at health screenings, but should only be done if it is offered by a trained professional.
The presence of the disease can be detected by measuring the pressure in the eye, which is generally elevated in the case of glaucoma.
The disease can also be detected in a number of other ways. Tonometry measures the firmness of the surface of the eyeball by placing a sensor against the front surface of the eye. Because people with glaucoma may have normal pressure in their eyes, this should not be the only test for glaucoma. Instead, it should be combined with other tests before glaucoma is diagnosed.
Pachymetry uses an instrument to touch the cornea to measure thickness. Gonioscopy is a process in which a contact lens with mirrors is placed in the eye. This allows the doctor to examine the interior of the eye from a number of angles.
Finally, ophthalmoscopy allows the doctor to look into the eye from the pupil to examine the optic nerves. He or she can also do visual field testing, which maps the visual field to identify damage to the optic nerve.
Once glaucoma is detected, how is it treated?
Damage cannot be reversed once it has occurred. That is why it is so important that it be identified early. However, the disease can be controlled, preventing further damage to the optic nerve and preserving sight.
Eye drops, applied several times a day to lower pressure, are generally the first step to preventing further damage. Other treatments may include lasers or surgery.
But without early detection and taking steps to prevent more damage, the eventual result is a loss of sight.
Encourage your employees to take care of their eyes and get regular screenings. Taking the time now may save someone’s sight in the future.
Julie Sich is the health promotions coordinator for SummaCare, Inc. Reach her at (330) 996-8779 or [email protected]. SummaCare offers a full line of health plans and ancillary products. Through its extensive network of more than 7,000 providers and more than 50 hospitals, SummaCare offers coverage to more than 115,000 members throughout northern Ohio.
