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World Glaucoma Week 2020

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Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness.  It is estimated that over 60 million people have glaucoma world wide.  Glaucoma is a disease that causes damage to the optic nerve at the back of the eye and results in reduced peripheral vision.  The reduction in peripheral vision can be devastating to vision.

The biggest problem with glaucoma is that there are no obvious signs that damage is occurring.  A person with early stages of glaucoma gets no headaches, red or sore eyes, and can not tell that their peripheral vision is slowly shrinking.

Risk factors for glaucoma include age, family history, ethnicity, use of steroids (including inhalers), high myopia, and diabetes.  At this time, we do not think risk can be altered by diet or excercise.

The only way to detect glaucoma is with a comprehensive eye exam.  The tests used to diagnose glaucoma are: intra-ocular pressures, optic nerve head evaluation, visual field testing, optical coherence tomography (which analyzes thickness of the nerve fibre), corneal thickness measurements and measurement of the ‘angle’ (where the cornea meets the iris).

Once the diagnosis of glaucoma is determined, the first line of treatment is eye drops to lower the pressure in the eye and prevent progression of the disease.  There are some new surgical interventions that are being considered earlier for some patients. 

Please remember to get a comprehensive eye exam every two years and every year when you are over 60 years old.

Written by Dr. Paul Dame

Dr. Paul Dame is one of the founders of Downtown Eye Care, having established the practice in 1982 after receiving his Doctor of Optometry from the University of Waterloo. Dr. Dame takes a holistic approach to eye care, informing his patients about the effects of diet and exercise on eye health.

More Articles By Dr. Paul Dame

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We Are Moving!

Office Updates

We have been in the Stock Exchange Tower for over 30 years, but on August 3rd we will be moving 110 steps down the hallway into the Calgary Place building.  We will be across from the fitness centre, across from Marcello’s, at the top of the escalator, in the old Metropolitan Conference Center space.  You […]

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July 1, 2021
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Help Make the Season Kind With Downtown Vision Care

Community

This year the CBC Calgary Food Bank Drive is taking place but from a safe distance. Many local Calgary and Area businesses, including Downtown Vision Care, have joined forces to donate some fantastic items for an online auction. From private tours of the Royal Tyrrell Museum to Whiskey packages, there is something for everyone! Make your […]

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Supplement Your Eye Health

Eye Health

Many of us take supplements because we want to support our muscles, skin, bones, brains and heart — but we often forget about the miraculous structure we depend on every day. Our eyesight is essential for our survival and quality of life and deserves its own set of supplements to help prevent and minimize eye-related […]

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September 1, 2020
Dr. Sherri Norris

We have been in the Stock Exchange Tower for over 30 years, but on August 3rd we will be moving 110 steps down the hallway into the Calgary Place building.  We will be across from the fitness centre, across from Marcello’s, at the top of the escalator, in the old Metropolitan Conference Center space.  You […]

Read More…

This year the CBC Calgary Food Bank Drive is taking place but from a safe distance. Many local Calgary and Area businesses, including Downtown Vision Care, have joined forces to donate some fantastic items for an online auction. From private tours of the Royal Tyrrell Museum to Whiskey packages, there is something for everyone! Make your […]

Read More…

Many of us take supplements because we want to support our muscles, skin, bones, brains and heart — but we often forget about the miraculous structure we depend on every day. Our eyesight is essential for our survival and quality of life and deserves its own set of supplements to help prevent and minimize eye-related […]

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