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Glaucoma screenings
prevent blindness
OU-COM program
serves uninsured in
Southeastern Ohio
Third-year
osteopathic student,
Richard Mahon,
administers a
glaucoma screening
in Kilvert
last January.
By Richard Heck
Jan. 30, 2009
A program provided
by the Ohio
University College
of Osteopathic
Medicine (OU-COM)
Community Health
Programs screens for
glaucoma, the
leading cause of
blindness in adults.
So far, the
year-long Student
Sight Savers Program
has provided nearly
200 individual free
glaucoma screenings
in the region.
OU-COM students
conduct the
screenings under the
supervision of
optometrists and
ophthalmologists.
“The Student Sight
Savers program is
aimed particularly
for the underserved,
underinsured and
uninsured residents
of Southeastern
Ohio,” says Missy
Kemper,
assistant director
of OU-COM’s Areas
Health Education
Center and Community
Health programs
(CHP).
According to the
Glaucoma Research
Foundation, more
than 3 million
Americans have
glaucoma, over half
of whom are unaware
they have it.
Although treatable,
glaucoma can lead to
blindness, but the
gradual vision loss
with glaucoma often
goes unnoticed.
“Glaucoma has no
early symptoms, so
people may have the
disease and don’t
know it,” says Susan
Quinn, O.D., who
coordinates the
program’s student
and physician
volunteers. “It’s a
chronic disease, and
if it’s diagnosed,
patients need to be
seen regularly. They
need regular testing
and sometimes
surgery to make sure
the disease is well
controlled,” she
said.
Glaucoma is caused
by a build up of eye
fluids. The
resulting increase
in pressure damages
the optic nerve,
leading to vision
loss and, if
untreated,
blindness. Symptoms
include a gradual
blurring of vision,
which can progress
to tunnel vision or
seeing halos around
lights, especially
at night.
Although people of
any age can develop
glaucoma, the eye
disease typically
afflicts adults over
the age of 50,
especially African
Americans,
diabetics, those
with extreme
nearsightedness or
eye damage and those
with a family
history of the
disease.
The Student Sight
Savers screenings
take place at
churches, community
centers and other
locations. Recent
screenings were held
at the Goodworks
homeless shelter in
Athens and the
Lottridge Community
Center in Athens
County, says Kemper,
who warns that these
screenings are not
meant to replace a
full eye exam.
If signs of glaucoma
or other eye
problems are
detected during the
CHP screenings, the
individual is
encouraged to follow
up with an
optometrist or
ophthalmologist.
Uninsured
individuals are
directed to free
resources.
The next screening
is scheduled at the
senior center in
Belpre on
Feb. 27.
To learn more about
the screenings, or
to inquire about
hosting one of the
events, contact
Missy Kemper at
OU-COM Community
Health Programs at
(740) 593-2432.
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