Currently, there are more than 3 million people in the United States and over 60 million worldwide living with glaucoma, otherwise known as “the sneak thief of sight”. It is estimated that half of those with glaucoma, do not know they have it. The disease presents no symptoms and is the leading cause of irreversible blindness, taking as much as 40% of sight without notice. January has been deemed National Glaucoma Awareness Month and is an important time to spread the world about this sight-stealing disease.
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that gradually progress, stealing sight, without symptom. Glaucoma can affect people of all ages but is most prevalent in middle-aged adults and the elderly. While there is no cure, surgery or medication can slow its affects and help to prevent further vision loss. The word ‘glaucoma’ is actually an umbrella term for a group of eye diseases that damage the delicate fibers that run from your eye to your optic nerve, which is the nerve that carries information about the images your eye sees to your brain. This damage is often the result of high fluid pressure inside the eye.
What can you do?