Glaucoma the "Sneak Thief of Sight"

There are many good reasons to get an eye exam each year, and perhaps one of the most important is to find out if you have indications of glaucoma, a group of eye diseases that can lead to blindness. January is Glaucoma Awareness Month. This can serve as a public service to people of all ages to get a comprehensive eye exam. While there is no cure for glaucoma, there are treatments available to preserve sight. According to the World Health Organization, glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world. Some estimates state there are over 60 million people worldwide with suspected glaucoma. The Glaucoma Research Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure for glaucoma, states that there are currently 2.7 million people in the United States over age 40 with glaucoma. The National Eye Institute is projecting that there will be a 58% increase in this number by 2030. There are risk factors for glaucoma. Glaucoma can strike at any age, from newborns to elders; everyone is at risk for glaucoma. However, certain groups are at a higher risk that others. People over age 60 are at a higher risk (you are six times more likely to get glaucoma if you are over 60 years), as are family members of those who have glaucoma (the most common type of glaucoma is hereditary; family history increases risk of glaucoma four to nine times), and people with diabetes. People who are severely nearsighted are also at risk for glaucoma. Some evidence links high doses of steroid use to glaucoma. Eye injuries may cause glaucoma, also. This type of glaucoma can occur immediately after the injury or years later. Glaucoma is sometimes called the “sneak thief of sight” because often there are no symptoms of the disease and once vision is lost it cannot be regained. The Glaucoma Research Foundation states that as much as 40% of vision can be lost without a person noticing. If you receive a diagnosis of glaucoma, it is important to know what it may mean. First, it does not necessarily mean that you will go blind. Blindness from glaucoma is a relatively rare occurrence. Sight impairment from glaucoma occurs in about 10% of patients. Glaucoma can be controlled with treatments for life – eye drops, laser treatment or surgery – and these treatments may be able to help prevent additional vision loss. Is it time for your annual eye exam? It may be a good time for you to schedule your eye exam for 2014.