36 FEELING GREAT MONDAY, MARCH 7, 2016 HERALDSUN.COM.AU

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Glaucoma dangerAS the Australian

population ages,the number ofpeople living withreduced vision

resulting from glaucoma is rising.

Glaucoma is an eye diseasein which the nerve fibres in the optic nerve at the back of the eye are slowly destroyed as a result of increased pressure

inside the eye. This rise in pressure often occurs if there is a defect in the flow and/or drainage of fluid in the eye, or if there is poor blood supply to the optic nerve fibres.

These nerve fibres are responsible for sending information regarding what is seen from the eye to the visual part of the brain.

The frightening prospect is

that most people with early stage glaucoma are not aware of any symptoms — in fact half of people with glaucoma in Australia are undiagnosed.

“Their eyes may feel comfortable and they may not notice any effect on their vision,” said behavioural optometrist Rebecca Jamieson from the Australasian College of Behavioural Optometrists.

“This is why routine eye examinations every two to three years post 40 are so important. Vision loss becomes evident in time if the disease damages the nerve fibres.”

Glaucoma Australia national executive officer Geoff Pollard said early detection was vital to preserve vision. “Glaucoma is truly an invisible disease,” he said.

A person with advanced glaucoma will report that a section of their non-central vision is not clear. They might see things directly in front of them but miss objects in their peripheral vision. Central vision is usually the last area of sight to be affected.

Glaucoma is possible at anyage, but is more common as we age. About one in 200 people aged 50 has glaucoma, rising to one in eight Australians by age 80. About 11,000 Australians are blind from glaucoma at any one time.

People with a first degreerelative who has glaucoma are at a 10-fold increased risk of developing the disease, and those who are short sighted, long sighted, have diabetes, migraines or use steroid medication are also at increased risk.This week is World Glaucoma Week.

Eye diseasemight be silently

stealing your sight

without you being able

to realise, writes MICHELLE POUNTNEY

WEEK EIGHTWITH STEVE MONEGHETTI

TRAINING: WEEK EIGHTLONG COURSEMon: 50min run/walk

(7.5km) Tue: Rest Wed: 2km run/walk to the

bottom of the hill as warm

up, 4-6 repetitions running

up the hill with a slow walk/

jog back down in between,

2km run/walk back home

Thu: Rest Fri: 30min walk (3km)

Sat: 90min run/walk (14km)

Sun: Rest

SHORT COURSEMon: 30min walk (3km)

Tue: RestWed: 10min walk/run (1km)

to the bottom of the hill, 2-4

repetitions up the hill power

walking or running with a

slow walk/jog back down in

between, 10min walk/run

(1km) back to home or work

Thu: RestFri: 15min walk (1.5km)

Sat: 35min run/walk

(4.5km)Sun: Rest

THIS is the penultimateweek of our preparation and you will notice that the basis of the training is virtually the same as last week with the only change being the longer time (and distance) of the big run on Saturday. This is obviously an important component of any distance race; having the confidence of knowing that when you put your foot across that timing mat at the start of the event you are confident of finishing.

As I say, every journey starts with the first step but let’s be honest it also finishes with the last step at the completion of the run. After this week of training that confidence will be well founded.

The other important

factor that I have focused on across the training is the consistency of your exercise. Since week two we have been doing four workouts a week with three rest days. Not only has this established a good training routine, it has also allowed you to develop a strong base of running and walking. This base has gradually increased week after week and if you add up the total distance covered this week it is 31km for the long course and around 12km for the short course or twice race distance — a very nice statistical fit confirming we are prepared and almost ready to go.

I would also recommendthat you wear the same shoes and clothing that you intend to wear on race day in your runs and walks this week so you iron out any chafing or wardrobe malfunctions before the

event. As I regularlytell people, I neverdid anything in a racethat I hadn’t practised in trainingbeforehand.

This is our lastsolid week so makesure you work reallyhard especially inthat Saturday longrun. In fact, yourcommitment will berewarded with awell-deserved restday on Sunday and apublic holiday nextMonday as a result ofyour hard labour.

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