January is Glaucoma Awareness Month, a time to highlight the leading cause of irreversible blindness. Glaucoma is often called the silent thief of sight because, in many cases, it slowly damages the optic nerve without causing noticeable symptoms in the early stages of the disease. By the time someone becomes aware of a vision problem, significant and irreversible damage has often already occurred.
Vision loss from glaucoma typically begins in the peripheral (side) vision. Because central vision remains clear until later stages, many people are unaware that anything is wrong until the disease has progressed.
Facts & Stats
- 4.2 million Americans have glaucoma
- 80 million people worldwide are affected
- 1.5 million Americans have vision-affecting glaucoma
- Up to 50% of people with glaucoma don’t know they have it
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, which is responsible for sending visual information from the eye to the brain. There are several types of glaucoma, including open-angle glaucoma, narrow-angle glaucoma, congenital glaucoma, and secondary glaucoma caused by inflammation, trauma, or medications.
The optic nerve damage is usually, but not always, associated with elevated intraocular pressure. The most common form is primary open-angle glaucoma, which involves increased eye pressure and slow, progressive loss of vision. Because patients typically have no symptoms in the early stages, regular comprehensive eye exams are essential. When glaucoma is detected early and treated appropriately, vision can often be preserved.
Who is at risk?
Anyone can develop glaucoma, but certain factors increase the risk. These include a family history of glaucoma, African American and Hispanic heritage, diabetes, high blood pressure, long-term steroid use, and elevated eye pressure. Risk also increases with age.
How is Glaucoma detected?
Glaucoma is detected during a comprehensive eye exam. This includes measuring eye pressure and evaluating the optic nerve. Additional testing often includes retinal imaging and peripheral vision testing to detect early damage.
What is the treatment for glaucoma?
Treatment for glaucoma focuses on lowering eye pressure. This may include prescription eye drops, laser procedures, surgery, or a combination of these. In some cases, pressure-lowering glaucoma procedures can be safely combined with cataract surgery to improve both vision and eye pressure.
Although there is no cure for glaucoma, early diagnosis and treatment can slow or stop progression and preserve vision long term.
What to do now?
Glaucoma Awareness Month is a reminder that routine comprehensive eye exams are essential for lifelong eye health. If you haven’t had an eye exam recently, now is the time to schedule one. And if you have been diagnosed with glaucoma, encourage your family members to do the same, because they may be at increased risk as well.
For more information, visit www.eyespecialtygroup.com.
Jessica Armstrong is a consultative optometrist at Eye Specialty Group and sees patients in the Memphis, Collierville, and Southaven locations.
by Jessica Armstrong, O.D.
