January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month
National Glaucoma Awareness Month is in January, and it's a great time to raise awareness about this sight-threatening disease. In the United States, glaucoma is the primary cause of visual loss and blindness. Because glaucoma has no early symptoms, half of the persons with it are unaware they have it.
According to the National Eye Institute, the number of people with glaucoma will rise by 58 percent by 2030. Glaucoma may not show any symptoms at first, but if left untreated, it can gradually take away your vision.
If we don't promote awareness about the significance of regular eye examinations to protect vision, along with our aging population, we could see an epidemic of blindness. It is estimated that 4.5 million individuals worldwide are blind as a result of glaucoma if it is left untreated, according to the World Health Organization.
Anyone can get glaucoma, but those at higher risk include:
- Everyone over age 60, especially Hispanics/Latinos
- African Americans over age 40
- People with a family history of glaucoma
What is Glaucoma?
In glaucoma, fluid levels in the eye grow, progressively stealing sight, often without notice, and this is referred to as glaucoma. Even though the most prevalent kinds generally afflict the elderly and middle-aged, glaucoma can affect persons of all ages.
Damage to the optic nerve causes vision loss. With almost a million wires, this nerve operates like an electric cord. It's in charge of transporting images from the eye to the brain. The eye, like many other organs, requires a fluid balance to function properly. Too much fluid in the eye, on the other hand, causes pressure to build up around the optic nerve. If the pressure isn’t relieved, the optic nerve is irreparably damaged.
While there is no cure for glaucoma at this time, medication or surgery can help to delay or even stop further visual loss. The best treatment is determined by the type of glaucoma, as well as other considerations.
Types of Glaucoma
Here are types of Glaucoma listed by Unicity Healthcare:
There are two main types of glaucoma: primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), and angle-closure glaucoma. These are marked by an increase of intraocular pressure (IOP) or pressure inside the eye. When optic nerve damage has occurred despite a normal IOP, this is called normal-tension glaucoma.
Secondary glaucoma refers to any case in which another disease causes or contributes to increased eye pressure, resulting in optic nerve damage and vision loss.
Two Main Types of Glaucoma
In the most common form, there are virtually no symptoms. Vision loss begins with a peripheral or side vision, so if you have glaucoma, you may not notice anything until significant vision is lost.
Primary open-angle glaucoma often goes unnoticed until significant vision loss has occurred. Most commonly, peripheral vision is affected first. Over time, central vision can also be impacted. Primary open-angle glaucoma is the most common type of glaucoma. It happens gradually, where the eye does not drain fluid as well as it should – and as a result, eye pressure builds and starts to damage the optic nerve. This type of glaucoma is painless and causes no vision changes at first.
Some people can have optic nerves that are sensitive to normal eye pressure. This means their risk of getting glaucoma is higher than normal. Regular eye exams are important to find early signs of damage to their optic nerve.
Acute angle-closure glaucoma occurs rapidly and presents a variety of symptoms:
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- Sudden vision loss
- Eye or brow aches
- Headaches
- Eye redness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dilated pupil
If you are experiencing symptoms consistent with acute angle-closure glaucoma, it’s vital to schedule an eye exam immediately. Vision loss associated with glaucoma cannot be reversed, but treatment can slow the disease’s progression.
Many people with angle-closure glaucoma develop it slowly. This is called chronic angle-closure glaucoma. There are no symptoms at first, so they don’t know they have it until the damage is severe or they have an attack. Angle-closure glaucoma can cause blindness if not treated right away.
The Importance of Regular Eye Exams
It is especially crucial to get regular eye exams for people at higher risk of developing the disease, since they may help to avoid unnecessary vision loss. Getting a full eye examination is the greatest approach to safeguard your vision from glaucoma. If you have glaucoma, therapy can then begin right away. Glaucoma is the world's second greatest cause of blindness, and it's the main cause of blindness in adults over the age of 60. Glaucoma, on the other hand, can often be avoided with early treatment.
Help Raise Awareness
- Talk to friends and family about glaucoma. If you have glaucoma, don’t keep it a secret. Let your family members know.
- Get involved in your community through fundraisers, online information sessions or group discussions, etc.
- Join the National Eye Health Education Program (NEHEP) in encouraging people at higher risk for glaucoma to get a dilated eye exam.