Award winning journalist and Seven News Melbourne newsreader Mr Mike Amor has joined Glaucoma Australia as an official ambassador, in time for World Glaucoma Week (10-16 March).
Amor joins Mr Kirk Pengilly from Australian rock band INXS and Mr David Koch, who has co-hosted network Seven’s Sunrise show for more than 19 years, as ambassadors of the organisation.
Glaucoma is said to affect more than 300,000 Australians, with an estimated 50% of those undiagnosed. While nine out of 10 Australians say that sight is their most valued sense,¹ one third are not having regular eye tests and an alarming one in eight have never seen an optometrist in their life.²
“Glaucoma is often thought of as an old person’s disease. I was first diagnosed in my twenties but five-years ago glaucoma almost stole my eyesight,” Amor said.
He said the diagnosis came as Channel Seven asked him to return to Melbourne from the US, where he was stationed as the US correspondent.
“I was excited, but my eyes weren’t. My eyes were red, sore, weeping and sensitive to light, so I was in discomfort. Despite being on multiple eye drops, the pressure in both eyes was in the high 50s instead of below 20 which is considered safe. The doctor warned me that I was in danger of my eyes ‘stroking out’. I needed urgent surgical intervention to save my eyesight, I was petrified, and I don’t mind saying emotional about it. “
Amor’s ophthalmologist in the US was able to control his IOP after multiple surgeries and he was told by his Australian ophthalmologist to prepare for further surgeries.
“If you take anything from my story it is to make your eye health part of your overall health checks. Even if you don’t need glasses go and get your eyes checked. Testing your eye pressure is painless, it’s as gentle as a puff of air,” he said.
With a career spanning 25 years, Amor has covered many of the biggest stories in the world from conflict zones in Gaza and Libya to the US, including the September 11 attacks and leading Seven’s coverage for three US elections, including Mr Barack Obama’s historic win in 2008.
Currently, he is the weekend presenter of Seven News Melbourne and presents Seven Afternoon News which he said would not be possible without his sight.
Glaucoma Australia CEO Mr Richard Wylie said: “We are incredibly grateful to Mike for sharing his story as his personal experience shows that glaucoma can affect anyone, and his passionate plea for Australians to go and get their eyes tested will go a long way to increasing glaucoma awareness, early detection and intervention.
“Australians still need to know more about glaucoma because for most people, diagnosis is a shock. There’s a great deal of anxiety around receiving a glaucoma diagnosis as well as managing the ongoing challenges and that’s part of our role at Glaucoma Australia to provide support through our SiGHTWiSE program.”
As a Glaucoma Australia ambassador, Amor hopes to raise awareness of the importance of eye health, in particular glaucoma, and to encourage Australians to get their eyes checked.
“They call glaucoma ‘the silent thief of sight’ because often there are no symptoms. I knew I had it and it still almost took mine. Don’t let glaucoma steal your eyesight, please go get tested,” Amor said.
More reading
SiGHTWiSE: Glaucoma Australia gives patient support program a new name
Glaucoma Australia says economic impact of disease could top $4.3 billion
References
- Australian Government Department of Health https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/eye-health
- Optometry Australia, The 2020 Vision Index
