By Leon G. Russ HOMETOWN NEWS lruss@hometown-news.com The JC Strobel Foundation’s first “Glaucoma Awareness Day – Fight for Sight” was held under sunny skies on the quad of USC Upstate on Friday, April 11. The day was the brainchild of Jekeithlyn “Kiki” Strobel Ross, daughter of Spartanburg institution J.C. Strobel of “Call It!” fame from the Beacon Drive-In restaurant. The day offered free eye tests and glaucoma screening by Lawrence E. Roel and Associates and free diabetes testing by Flutes of Hope. Ross was pleased with the turnout. “For my first grassroots effort I think the turnout has been great.” More importantly she said, was the fact that so many people were getting screened for glaucoma, diabetes and had eye exams. She stated it was important to have glaucoma checks because it’s a disease that is “overlooked, misdiagnosed and misunderstood.” Her hope is by offering free glaucoma checks the number of cases in the Upstate will decrease. She explained the number of glaucoma cases in the Upstate is “staggeringly high. Over fifty percent of the people in Spartanburg and surrounding counties” have been diagnosed “and that’s alarming.” She is also hoping to compile new data on the disease after holding these free screenings. She said, “Almost everybody I’ve talked to either has it or knows someone that does.” She hopes to use that data to determine the demographics of who is most affected by the disease. She stated her main goal is to educate and make people aware of the disease. “The key,” she said, “is early detection.” She noted the disease is hereditary and if it runs in your family you should have your eyes checked twice a year for the disease. Jeanette Tary, Front Office Administrator for Lawrence E. Roel and Associates, agreed. She said if you have a history of glaucoma you should begin to have your eyes checked twice a year at age 35. For those without a family history of glaucoma she recommends beginning to be tested for the disease at age 40. She explained it’s a painless test where a Tono Pen is tapped against the eye. A number then registers on the pen. If the number is in the acceptable range nothing needs to be done. If a person at the free screening received a number out of the acceptable range she recommended the person make an appointment either with their office or another doctor. The disease is personal to Ross since her father JC was struck with glaucoma when he was 35 years old. JC Strobel was there and stated, “It’s a great day. I’m hopeful this will help people.” He noted glaucoma slowly steals your sight away and there is no cure. Had an event like this been available years ago it may have helped him. It certainly helped those who turned out. Betty Cook of Whitney said it was time for her to get a glaucoma screening and this allowed her to get screened and save the money she normally would have had to spend for the test. “We’re retired so it really makes a difference to us,” she said. Barry Bolden of Moore was in the same boat. He said, “I’m sixty something so I need to get checked.” He allowed he usually gets his eyes checked every two to three years and sheepishly admitted they told him he should have his eyes checked annually. Ross has two more glaucoma awareness days scheduled, April 26 at Cornerstone Baptist Church, and June 7 at Mount Moriah Baptist Church.