Professor highlights vital role

Optometrists and regular eye examinations have a vital role to play in the early detection of glaucoma, according to a leading optometrist.

Professor David Henson, professor of ophthalmology and vision science at the University of Manchester, said: 'We need to get more people to visit their optometrist and break down the barriers that some people have towards having their eyes tested. We need to promote routine eye care and support screening programmes.'

He was speaking at a regional meeting of the College of Optometrists, in Wrexham, Wales. Figures showed more than 90 per cent of glaucoma referrals came from optometrists, Henson said, but that between 10 and 39 per cent of patients with glaucoma presented when the disease was already at an advanced stage in at least one eye.