January is Glaucoma Awareness Month

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about the leading cause of irreversible vision loss and blindness in the United States. 

Often referred to as the "silent thief of sight,” glaucoma can cause permanent damage to the optic nerve without noticeable early symptoms. Common signs include: peripheral vision blind spots, blurred vision, halos around lights, and mild headaches or eye discomfort.  

 According to the National Eye Institute, glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, which is a bundle of more than one million nerve fibers connecting the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye to your brain and can cause vision loss and blindness. Primary open-angle is the most common type of glaucoma — affecting a high percentage of those with the disease.  This type of glaucoma is treatable with early diagnosis and treatment. Without treatment this type of glaucoma can lead to progressive optic nerve damage and blindness. 

You may be at higher risk for glaucoma if: 

• A family member has glaucoma 
• An increase in eye pressure 
• You are an older adult, over the age of 55 
• You are African American or Hispanic descent 
• Certain medical conditions such as: high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and sickle cell anemia 
• Undergoing certain eye surgeries or having an eye injury 

Experts at The Eye Institute (TEI) recommend if you have any of the above risk factors and have not had an annual eye exam in the last year, make an appointment today at one of The Eye Institute’s locations.

Although anyone can develop glaucoma, it is a leading cause of blindness among African-Americans. And, among Hispanics in older age groups, the risk of glaucoma is nearly as high as that for African-Americans. 

There are two main types of glaucoma: primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), and angle-closure glaucoma, both of which involve an increase in intraocular pressure (IOP), or pressure inside the eye. Another type, normal tension glaucoma, occurs when optic nerve damage has occurred despite a normal IOP. Secondary glaucoma refers to any case in which another disease causes or contributes to increased eye pressure, resulting in optic nerve damage and vision loss. 

In POAG, the most common form, symptoms often don’t appear until significant vision loss occurs, starting with peripheral (side) vision. Because of this, regular comprehensive eye exams are critical for early detection.  

If diagnosed with glaucoma, talk over your options with your doctor. While glaucoma is a serious disease, treatment is effective in managing the disease and preserving vision.  

Remember these tips:  

• If your doctor prescribes medicine, be sure to take it every day.  
• Tell your doctor if your treatment causes side effects.  
• See your doctor for regular check-ups.  
• If you’re having trouble with everyday activities because of your vision loss, ask your doctor about low vision services or devices that could help.  
• Encourage family members to get checked for glaucoma, since it can run in families. 

Call The Eye Institute at 215.276.6111 to schedule your appointment today.