“If treated in time, before symptoms occur, glaucoma can be treated and controlled by medications and vision loss can be avoided.”
January is Glaucoma Awareness Month. Glaucoma, with almost no signs or systems is the leading cause of vision loss and blindness in the United States. If treated in time, before symptoms occur, glaucoma can be treated and controlled by medications and vision loss can be avoided. Once the disease has affected your vision, there is no way to restore eyesight or reverse the damage.
Those with higher risk of glaucoma include:
- African Americans
- Everyone over age 60
- Hispanics/Latinos
- People with a family history of the disease
No one is immune to glaucoma and it affects over 6 million people throughout the world and it’s the leading cause of vision loss and blindness. Glaucoma is so common that 3 million people in the U.S. alone suffer from the disease, yet half are unaware that they even have glaucoma because there are no symptoms until vision issues occur. Even the initial loss is sometimes hard to perceive as periphery vision, affect by the disease, is lost gradually and can go unnoticed.
Here are some facts at a glance to help explain glaucoma:
- Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in the world.
- It is a disease that is often associated with elevated intraocular pressure.
- Glaucoma usually causes no symptoms early on.
- It can only be diagnosed by regular eye examinations.
- Glaucoma damages the optic nerve.
- Glaucoma is usually treated effectively with eye drops.
- In some case lasers and surgery are recommended.
- Pressure builds up in the eye when the drainage of the eye becomes blocked.
- While anyone can get glaucoma, some people are at greater risk.
- Damage to the optic nerve from glaucoma is irreversible.
- The tests that determine the intraocular pressure are painless.
- There are two main types of glaucoma, open angle glaucoma and closed angle glaucoma.
- Extensive research into causes and treatments of glaucoma are ongoing worldwide.
The most important thing to remember about glaucoma is that early early diagnosis and treatment is the key to preserving sight. Alpine Eye Care provides outstanding eye care services in Northern Michigan Remember, you only have one set of eyes, protect the gift of sight. The only way to know what’s really going on with your eyes is to see an eye care professional. Schedule your appointment today!
Call Alpine Eye Care today at 1.877.SEE.2020.