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| Free glaucoma screenings will be offered to the public Aug. 7-10 at the H-E-B parking lot at 400 Valley Hi Drive. | |
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The Health Science Center, H-E-B and Lions Clubs International will provide free screenings for the blinding eye disease glaucoma from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Aug. 7-10 (Sunday through Wednesday) in the parking lot of the H-E-B store at 400 Valley Hi Drive. The store is at the corner of Valley Hi and Loop 410. Look for the blue Lions Mobile Eye Screening Unit in the parking lot.
The screenings are a public service and have been funded by more than $500,000 in grants to the Health Science Center department of ophthalmology from the Congressional Glaucoma Caucus. U.S. Rep. Henry Bonilla has been especially instrumental in securing funding for this service, which is carried out in all the congressional districts of Bexar County. Anyone who screens positive for glaucoma or other disease is referred to a qualified eye care professional in the community.
Glaucoma, one of the leading causes of blindness in this country, usually robs victims of their vision without warning. Individuals at highest risk for the group of diseases known as glaucoma include African Americans 40 and older; anyone over 60, especially Mexican Americans; and those with family history of glaucoma. According to National Eye Institute estimates, approximately 3 million Americans have verified cases of glaucoma and millions more cases may be undetected in the population at large.
The free screenings are taking place monthly at H-E-B parking lots countywide.
“The screenings enable people who are untreated to get help, and they also are a tool to better determine rates of glaucoma and untreated glaucoma,” said William E. Sponsel, M.D., professor of ophthalmology and the lead Health Science Center physician on the project.
Contact:
Will SansomPhone: (210) 567-2579
E-mail:
Sansom@uthscsa.edu
