What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a disease of the eye characterized by elevated pressure inside the eye and sometimes other factors that cause the fibers running through the optic nerve to slowly deteriorate. The optic nerve is the part of the eye that carries the images we see to the brain.
Without treatment, glaucoma can lead to permanent vision loss.
January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month
Want to hear a scary statistic? More than 60 million people suffer from glaucoma, but nearly half of them are completely unaware they have the eye disease. This is because glaucoma displays no symptoms and, at first, only affects peripheral or side vision. As a result, an individual can lose as much as 40% of their vision before even noticing. So when was the last time you had a comprehensive eye exam?
Early detection of Glaucoma means earlier, simpler and more effective treatment!
Once a person begins to lose their vision, the damage is irreversible. This is why eye exams are so important. Early detection and treatment are your best options to slow or even prevent further vision loss brought on by glaucoma. Without treatment, glaucoma can lead to permanent vision loss.
Another scary statistic: glaucoma is the second leading cause of vision loss in the United States behind only cataracts.
So once again, when was your last comprehensive eye exam? Call to make an appointment with your eye doctor to receive a thorough screening for ocular diseases, such as glaucoma!
Risk Factors for Glaucoma
- You are of African, Asian, and Hispanic descent
- You are over the age of 60
- You have a family member who has already been diagnosed
- You are diabetic
- You are severely nearsighted (myopic)
While everyone should have their eyes examined regularly, those with the above risk factors should increase the frequencies of those examinations.
To learn more about Glaucoma Awareness Month, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, consultative optometrists Dr. Nathan Frank and Dr. Corinne Casey, and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here to visit AnneArundelEyeCenter.com. Staffed by caring and knowledgeable professionals, our state-of-the-art treatment center is dedicated to making the best eye care accessible to everyone.
For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.
You can also follow Anne Arundel Eye Center on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!