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Photo Credit: unicityhealthcare.com
Photo Description: Glaucoma Awareness Month
What is Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of different eye diseases that can negatively impact your vision by causing fluids in the eyes to rise. Vision loss is caused by damage to the optic nerve. Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world. Glaucoma mainly affects middle-aged individuals, but can still affect people of all ages. The two main types of glaucoma consist of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), and angle-closure glaucoma. Both types of glaucoma are marked by an increase of intraocular pressure (IOP), or pressure inside the eye. Even though there is no
treatment yet for glaucoma, there are various medications and surgeries to help slow or prevent vision loss.
Facts
● More than 3 million people in the United States have glaucoma. The National Eye Institute projects this number will reach 4.2 million by 2030, a 58 percent increase.
● Glaucoma is called “the sneak thief of sight” since there are no symptoms and once vision is lost, it’s permanent. As much as 40% of vision can be lost without a person noticing.
● Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness. Moreover, among African American and Latino populations, glaucoma is more prevalent. Glaucoma is 6 to 8 times more common in African Americans than Caucasians.
● Over 3 million Americans, and over 60 million people worldwide, have glaucoma. Experts estimate that half of them don’t know they have it. Combined with our aging population, we can see an epidemic of blindness looming if we don’t raise awareness about the importance of regular eye examinations to preserve vision. The World Health Organization estimates that 4.5 million people worldwide are blind due to glaucoma.
How Can You Help
1. Talk to friends and family about glaucoma. If you have glaucoma, don’t keep it a secret. Let your family members know.
2. Refer a friend to www.glaucoma.org.
3. Request to have a free educational booklet sent to you or a friend through www.glaucoma.org.
4. Get involved in your community through fundraisers, online information sessions or group discussions, etc.
Citations:
https://glaucoma.org/january-is-glaucoma-awareness-month/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA8t2eBhD eARIsAAVEga0H1HDvLY6uKLOTWU4_wvHbHp0eAi0Rhbx2nnaWCGdG8KXigrzJTpYa ArWDEALw_wcB
https://www.unicityhealthcare.com/what-we-all-should-know-during-glaucoma-awarenes s-month/
