Increase Your Awareness of Glaucoma this Month
Since this month has been designated National Glaucoma Awareness Month, this post is intended to spread the word about the importance of knowing about the signs of this vision threatening disease. Glaucoma is a category of progressive eye disorders that cause damage to the eye's optic nerve, which may be a precursor to loss of central vision and eventual blindness. When uncontrolled, glaucoma often initially causes peripheral vision loss until it eventually results in total blindness. It is the number one reason for preventable vision loss and, according to estimates, over sixty million people worldwide suffer from it.
A contributing source of glaucoma is known to be elevated pressure around the optic nerve. As pressure around the eye is elevated, this damages the optic nerve which transmits messages to the brain. In instances where this system is damaged vision is affected. At the current time, damage to the optic nerve can't be corrected.
Glaucoma is especially dangerous because unlike other forms of vision impairment, there are no signs that indicate the progression of the condition until it may be too late.
It is due to this that glaucoma has acquired the nickname the "sneak thief of sight." This may leave you asking: how can one protect oneself against an illness which lacks any obvious symptoms?
Early diagnosis of glaucoma is the key to successful treatment. Although everyone may be at risk for glaucoma, certain groups are more at risk than others. Risk factors for glaucoma may include adults over 45, those having a family history of glaucoma, a predisposition to diabetes, or known eye conditions such as elevated intraocular pressure.
An effective way to detect glaucoma is to find a qualified eye doctor. There are a series of diagnostic eye examinations employed to measure the beginnings of glaucoma. Especially if you are over 45 or know that you are at risk, make sure to plan for a comprehensive eye exam annually.
The fact is most types of glaucoma cannot be prevented. However the damage to the optic nerve and deterioration of vision can be prevented by timely diagnosis and prompt treatment. Don't delay! Contact Absolute EyeCare Inc. now, for an annual screening for glaucoma.
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