Eye Q. Do you?

Early Diagnosis and Treatment Can Lessen Effects of Glaucoma, the “Sneak Thief of Sight”

This is the year of VISION & we are prepared to equip you with everything you need to preserve your 20/20. So if you are interested in diving into the world of Eye Care, Eye Health & Eye Safety, keep reading, and be sure to subscribe to our email list today -> bit.ly/JoinTheEyeQFam & approve our email address for your inbox 🙂

You may be busy making New Year’s resolutions to improve your health. However, did you remember to include improving your Eye Care routine? Annual Eye exams help to protect vision, and can also uncover evidence of other diseases including diabetes or hypertension. There are even eye diseases such as glaucoma that have damaging effects that may be detected through an eye exam before a patient notices any symptoms. In fact, patients in the early stages of glaucoma usually have no symptoms, no noticeable vision loss and no pain, which is why it is called the “sneak thief of sight.” By the time symptoms start to appear, some permanent damage to the eye has usually occurred.

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world and the leading cause of blindness in African American and Hispanic populations in America. Glaucoma is an eye disease that causes loss of sight by damaging a part of the eye called the optic nerve. This nerve sends information from the eyes to the brain. When the optic nerve is damaged, peripheral vision begins to diminish. If left untreated, over time, glaucoma may also damage central vision. Unfortunately, once vision is lost to glaucoma, it cannot be restored. Vision loss can be lessened, however, if glaucoma is detected and treated early.

January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month and we find it pertinent to educate the public on what they can do to help save their vision. Unfortunately, there is no cure for glaucoma. But the good news is that if detected and treated early, the effects of vision loss can be diminished.

There are many risk factors for glaucoma including:

• Age: Those that are 40 and older are more likely to develop glaucoma. The older you are, the greater your risk.
• Race: Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in African American and Hispanic populations in America.
• Family History: If you have a parent or sibling who has glaucoma, you are more likely to develop the disease.
• Diabetes: People with diabetes have a higher risk of developing glaucoma.
• Nearsightedness: People who are very nearsighted are at greater risk.
• Eye Injury or Surgery: Those who have had eye surgery or eye injuries may develop secondary glaucoma.
• Steroid Medication: Steroids may increase the risk of glaucoma when used for extended periods of time.