Victorian testimonials:

•	Alan Downie, 51, Burwood East
•	Alan Mitchell, 57, Bendigo
•	Bob Jamieson, 57, Bendigo
•	Hedley Moon, 62, Pyramid Hill
•	Kath Ponsonby, Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma and Cataracts

Hedley Moon, 62, Pyramid Hill

Farmer, Hedley Moon wondered why he was having to twist his neck around more than usual when backing up the tractor. He later learnt that it was due to glaucoma which had caused the loss of 25 per cent of Hedley's peripheral vision.

The 62-year-old from Pyramid Hill was diagnosed with glaucoma two-and-a-half years ago after visiting his local optometrist as part of a routine check-up.

Six months after his diagnosis, Hedley's sister, Gwenda, was also diagnosed with the familial disease. On learning the news, their sibling Graham also had his eyes tested and is now being monitored.

While Hedley's condition with treatment shouldn't worsen, he will not regain the vision that he has lost. The good news is that with treatment, usually regular eye drops, the condition can be arrested and progression of the damage slowed down.

The big implication for farmers like Hedley is safety. Driving is a large part of their everyday life and care has to be taken to compensate for the vision loss.

"Unless I'm looking directly at something, I can't see it," Hedley says.

Other statistics show that people with vision impairment are twice as likely to fall and be socially dependent, three times as likely to suffer from depression, and are admitted to nursing homes up to three years earlier than the rest of the population.

Glaucoma usually comes on slowly, progressively causing loss of sight if left undetected and untreated.

Like many Australians, Hedley says that if it wasn't for his regular tests he may never have picked up the condition.

"Being aware of my sight has enabled me to get the right medical attention and prevent the condition from getting worse. I can now focus on getting on with life," Hedley says.

For more information:
For further information, or to arrange an interview, please contact Monique Van Wierst on
(03) 9656 2027 or mvanwierst@vision2020australia.org.au