January: Glaucoma Awareness Month
Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can damage the optic nerve. Damage to the optic nerve can lead to a devastating loss of vision which can forever change the life of an individual.
Nearly three million people in the United States have glaucoma, and half of these people have yet to be diagnosed because the disease presents with no symptoms. One of the principal findings in patients with glaucoma is a person’s eye pressure (intraocular pressure) is too high, thus causing damage to the optic nerve. Early diagnosis (through routine eye exams) can identify if an individual has glaucoma. Glaucoma usually can be effectively treated with eye drops if diagnosed early.
You are at risk for glaucoma if:
- A family member has glaucoma
- You are an older adult
- You are African American - African Americans are three times more likely than Caucasians to have glaucoma and four times more likely to experience blindness from the disease.
The professional staff at The Eye Institute recommends if you have any of the above risk factors and have not had an annual eye exam in the last year, make an appointment today at one of The Eye Institute’s THREE practice locations.
View Glaucoma Infographic (Source:NEI)