More than 80 million people worldwide, including 3 million Americans, have glaucoma, making it a leading cause of irreversible blindness. Because there are often no early warning signs, such as pain, discomfort or blurred vision, nearly half of all people with glaucoma are unaware that they have it.
“January is Glaucoma Awareness month, which marks an important opportunity to remind people that the best way to prevent glaucoma-related blindness is by having a comprehensive eye exam” said Yao Liu, MD MS, Chief of the Glaucoma Service at the University of Wisconsin Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. “If we can detect glaucoma early, we can prevent vision loss with the many glaucoma treatment options that are available.”
Glaucoma is a condition caused by damage to the optic nerve, which transfers visual images to your brain.
“Yearly eye exams are particularly important for those at higher risk of glaucoma,” added Dr. Liu. “This includes individuals who have certain medical conditions such as diabetes, those with a family history of glaucoma, and those of African, Hispanic, or Asian heritage.”
For more on glaucoma: https://www.uwhealth.org/conditions/glaucoma