Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States. More than 2.7 million Americans have glaucoma and half of these are undiagnosed. Legacy Devers Eye Institute will conduct free visual field screenings in January as part of National Glaucoma Awareness Month. The screenings will test for glaucoma and other serious diseases of the eye. The process is painless and takes only a few minutes to complete.
“Glaucoma is treated most effectively with the disease is detected early, “ said Dr. Jim Rosenbaum, Chenoweth Chair of Ophthalmology at Legacy Devers Eye Institute. “We encourage anyone interested and especially those with family history of glaucoma, individuals with diabetes, African-American and Hispanic individuals to take advantage of this free screening service.”
The screening takes only 5 to 10 minutes, is painless, and does not require eyes to be dilated. Screenings are available on a first-come, first-served basis on these dates:
Friday, January 17, 2014
Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center
24800 SE Stark Street, Gresham
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Lobby area by Main Admitting Desk
Monday, January 20, 2014
Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center
1015 NW 22nd Avenue, Portland
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Main Lobby area between Admitting Desk and elevators
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center
2211 NW 139th Street, Vancouver
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Second floor lobby area by information desk
Monday, January 27, 2014
Legacy Emanuel Medical Center
2801 N. Gantenbein
Portland, Oregon, 97227
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Atrium area
About Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a progressive degeneration of the optic nerve, the connection between the eye and the brain, which results in permanent vision loss. Damage to the optic nerve results in the development of blind spots, which develop gradually in a person’s peripheral vision and often go undetected until the optic nerve is significantly damaged.
People at risk for glaucoma include those with a family history, those older than 40 years of age, those of African-American descent, and anyone who has had a previous eye injury. Regular exams are recommended every 1-2 years for people over the age of 65 and every 2-4 for ages 40-64. People with risk factors for the disease who are between the ages of 20 and 39 should be screened every 3-5 years.
