It’s National Glaucoma Awareness Month, a perfect time to go get those eyes checked.
More than 3 million people in the U.S. have glaucoma, and the number is rising. It is the leading cause of vision loss and blindness. Although typically associated with seniors, it can affect people of all ages.
And there are different types of glaucoma that affect your vision in different ways. For example, there is:
- open-angle glaucoma, which impacts peripheral eyesight,
- angle-closure glaucoma, where there’s pressure on the iris, and
- low-tension glaucoma, which occurs without elevated eye pressure.
The risk of developing primary open–angle glaucoma is up to nine times more likely if your parents or siblings have the disease. But no matter which type you have, there is no way to restore vision loss from glaucoma. You can get involved and raise awareness through volunteering, getting an eye exam, and knowing risk factors. Those at higher risk include people of African, Asian, and Hispanic descent. Other high-risk groups include people over 60, family members of those already diagnosed, diabetics, and people who are severely nearsighted. Although there is no cure for glaucoma, early diagnosis and treatment help control the disease and slow the process of vision loss or blindness. So, make an appointment to get your eye exam done soon.
There are organizations and tools that help with detecting and researching this disease. The Glaucoma Research Foundation was founded in 1978, they’ve funded research to find a cure, among other amazing works.
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