Have you visited your eye doctor for an exam recently? If you haven’t had an appointment in the last year or two, it’s definitely time to schedule one now.
January is Glaucoma Awareness Month, so we think it’s time to go over some quick facts about this disease — especially if you haven’t talked about it with your optometrist yet!
What is glaucoma?
“Glaucoma” actually refers to a collection of eye diseases that gradually result in vision loss.
There are a few different types of glaucoma, but with each type, the loss of eyesight is caused by damage to the optic nerve. The optic nerve is responsible for carrying images from your eyes to your brain; if this nerve isn’t working properly, your eyes will “collect” images but those images will never be passed on for interpretation.
So what are the different types of glaucoma?
There are two main types: primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and angle-closure glaucoma. In both cases, intraocular pressure (IOP) inside the eye increases and causes damage to the optic nerve.
You may have also heard of “secondary glaucoma” — this is when intraocular pressure increases because of another injury or illness, and the increased pressure also results in a loss of eyesight.
How many people are affected by glaucoma?
According to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, at least 2.7 million U.S. adults over 40 have glaucoma right now; the National Eye Institute has predicted that this number will increase to about 4.2 million by 2030.
Around three million Americans (of all ages) suffer from glaucoma, and it’s estimated that 60 million people globally may have the disease. The World Health Organization has estimated that around 4.5 million people worldwide have lost their vision entirely due to glaucoma.
What are the symptoms?
This is the frustrating part about glaucoma — there are virtually no symptoms of the disease until it has resulted in significant vision loss. The Glaucoma Research Institute states that glaucoma is often called “the sneak thief of sight” because patients may experience vision loss of up to 40% before noticing that something is wrong.
Are there any risk factors for glaucoma?
There most certainly are risk factors. Even people who maintain a healthy lifestyle can find themselves facing glaucoma. High-risk individuals include people of African, Asian, and Hispanic descent, and also anyone with diabetes or pre-diabetes (which is one in every three Americans). Individuals over the age of 60 are also at risk, and anyone with severe nearsightedness should be on high alert for glaucoma.
Can glaucoma be treated or prevented?
Early detection is key for protecting your vision; detecting and diagnosing glaucoma can be tricky simply because the condition is so complicated, but once you’ve been diagnosed with glaucoma there are several different treatments available to stop the disease from progressing.
Unfortunately, once a person has experienced vision loss due to glaucoma, there is no way to restore it. There is no cure for glaucoma yet — but researchers are constantly finding new ways to treat the disease and help patients maintain as much vision as possible. Treatment options include medication and/or surgery, depending on the type of glaucoma a patient has.
Okay, now glaucoma makes a little more sense. But what can we do to raise awareness about it?
- You’ve actually already found the best way to make yourself aware: simply learning more about glaucoma is a great start!
- The Glaucoma Research Foundation suggests that people between ages 55 and 64 should receive comprehensive eye exams every one to two years, and those over 65 should have an eye exam every six to 12 months.
- Anyone considered high risk is advised to be tested for glaucoma every year or two after age 35.
- Talking about glaucoma with friends and family members — especially anyone over the age of 55 — is another way to raise awareness.
- If you’re dealing with glaucoma right now, don’t be afraid to speak up and share your story! There are plenty of social media resources available — and not understanding the internet is no excuse, since 71% of older Americans go online at least once a day and 35% of adults over 65 have a social media profile. You can share your personal story anonymously at the Experience Project, or you can visit the website for The Glaucoma Foundation to read about how others are handling glaucoma, and to tell your own story.
Or, just feel free to share this post with your friends and family — and be sure to let us know how glaucoma has affected you!
