From around 10 o’clock yesterday at the Forgarty’s? Store, Central Georgetown,Cheap NFL Jerseys, hundreds, mainly senior citizens,Cheap NFL Jerseys, turned up for glaucoma screening by doctors from the Georgetown Hospital,Wholesale Jerseys, Ophthalmology and Optometry? students from the University of Guyana. Diagnosed cases were referred to specific health departments for treatment.This outreach is part of a programme of activities which recognizes this week, March 9- March 15,Cheap Jerseys China, as “World Glaucoma Week”.Glaucoma is colloquially known as the “silent eye thief” for even though damage to the optic nerve would be occurring, the disease would usually be asymptomatic until its later stages. The damage is permanent and may lead to blindness.At its late stages, the patient would be unable to see objects at the sides of his eyes. Early detection and treatment are critical for preserving vision.The most common form of glaucoma in Guyana is described as “Primary Open Angle Glaucoma” (POAG) which is the building up of pressure in the eyes causing damage to the optic nerves.The disease could strike at any time or any age, but in Guyana the people most at risk are persons of African heritage, those older than 40 years, diabetic, have taken steroid medications such as prednisone,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, had experienced trauma to the eyes, and or have a family history of the disease. Generally the high risk groups include people of Russian, Irish,Cheap NFL jerseys China, Japanese, Scandinavian and Hispanic heritage.The two other forms of glaucoma are “Angle-closure glaucoma” which is when “the fluid at the front of the eye cannot drain through and leave the eye”, and “Congenital Glaucoma” which describes the condition of children born with defective angles of the eye which retards drainage of the eyes.The disease is diagnosed by testing the eye pressure, the optic nerves, the angles of the eye, and a visual field examination to assess loss of vision. Treatment may include eye drops and pills to decrease the eye pressure, laser or operative surgery.