Heighten Your Awareness of Glaucoma this January

Since this month is National Glaucoma Awareness Month, this post is intended to review the importance of early diagnosis of this vision threatening disease. Glaucoma is a category of progressive eye disorders that cause damage to the eye's optic nerve, which can lead to a permanent loss of vision. When untreated, the damage often first shows up as peripheral vision loss until it eventually results in a complete loss of vision. Glaucoma is thought to be the leading reason for avoidable loss of vision and an estimated 60 million individuals worldwide have it.

The primary source of glaucoma is considered to be an increase in pressure around the optic nerve. As pressure around the eye is elevated, this damages the optic nerve which transmits signals to the brain. In instances where this system is damaged eyesight is affected. Unfortunately, optic nerve damage is usually irreversible.

Glaucoma is especially threatening because unlike other forms of vision impairment, there are no symptoms until vision is already lost.
It is due to this that glaucoma has obtained the nickname the "sneak thief of sight." The quandary is: how do you protect yourself against a condition which lacks any obvious symptoms?

Prompt diagnosis of glaucoma is required for effective care. Although glaucoma risk is universal, specific groups are more at risk than others. Major risk factors for glaucoma may include those over 45, those having family members who have had glaucoma, individuals with a predisposition to diabetes, or known eye conditions such as high intraocular pressure.

To learn more about glaucoma speak to your optometrist. There are several diagnostic eye evaluations relied on by doctors to measure damage to the ocular nerves caused by glaucoma. Especially if you are 45 or older or know that you are at risk, it's important to plan for a routine eye examination at least once a year.

It is unfortunate that for the most part glaucoma cannot be prevented. Nevertheless the deterioration of sight can be prevented by timely diagnosis and proper treatment. Contact Eye Care Associates now, for a yearly glaucoma screening.