Jamie Cleine, the Mayor of Buller District Council, counts himself as lucky that he had some great advice to get his eyes tested, as otherwise he could be facing a different future.
When Jamie first had difficulty reading his text messages and experienced headaches, a colleague recommended that he have his vision assessed by an optometrist. So, while wandering through a shopping mall, he passed Specsavers Riccarton and decided to book an eye health check. At this appointment, he was shocked to receive the news from the optometrist that he suspected glaucoma.
A diagnosis of glaucoma in both eyes was later confirmed by his ophthalmologist, and despite having no earlier signs of glaucoma other than his recent symptoms, his glaucoma was at an acute stage.
Jamie’s glaucoma is now well‑managed through his eye drops and he wears prescription glasses to aid his close‑range vision. Thanks to this treatment, the pressure in his eye is reducing, and he says that the main day‑to‑day impact of his glaucoma is remembering to apply his eye drops during his busy day as Mayor, a treatment he will likely require for the rest of his life.
Jamie’s decision to have an eye exam was a life‑changing one, as he reflects that if his glaucoma wasn’t detected when it was, he may have continued undiagnosed and lost vision. His advice for Kiwis turning 40 is: “it’s important to add an eye health check to the list of what you need to get checked when you turn 40 – it’s simple and non‑invasive, but if you put off getting your vision checked for too long then it may be too late.”