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Raise Your Awareness of Glaucoma this January
Since January marks National Glaucoma Awareness Month, in this article we would like to emphasize the importance of being aware of the indications of this vision threatening disease. Glaucoma is a category of progressive ocular diseases that damage the eye's optic nerve, which may be a precursor to a loss of vision. When uncontrolled, the damage often initially shows up as peripheral vision loss until it eventually results in total blindness. Glaucoma is thought to be the leading reason for avoidable blindness and statistics show that over 60 million people around the world suffer from the vision threatening condition.
A contributing reason for the development of glaucoma is known to be elevated pressure around the optic nerve known as intraocular pressure. As the pressure increases, this damages the optic nerve which transports signals to the brain. In instances where this system is damaged vision is affected. Regrettably, damage to the optic nerve can't be corrected.
Glaucoma is especially threatening because distinct from other causes of vision loss, there are no symptoms until vision is already lost.
This is why glaucoma is known as the "sneak thief of sight." This may leave you asking: how can one prevent a disease which has no obvious symptoms?
Prompt detection of the disease is the key to effective treatment. While glaucoma risk is universal, particular groups have a higher risk than others. Major risk factors for glaucoma can include anyone over 45 years of age, individuals having a family history of glaucoma, diabetes, or other eye conditions such as myopia, hyperopia, eye injuries or high intraocular pressure.
There are a few different types of glaucoma such as open-angle or closed angle glaucomas. As a general rule, both eyes are affected, however the disease may progress more rapidly in one of the eyes.
An effective way to detect glaucoma is to speak to an eye doctor. There are a number of diagnostic eye examinations employed to check intraocular pressure and the risk of glaucoma. Especially if you are 45 or older or have one of the other risk factors named above, you should schedule a routine eye exam at least once a year.
The fact is most kinds of glaucoma are not preventable. That being said, the optic nerve damage and loss of vision may be prevented by timely diagnosis and treatment. Contact Davis Eyecare Associates today, for a yearly screening for glaucoma.