Health Topic of the Month

May

http://www.glaucoma.org/learn/what_is_glaucom.php

Healthy Vision Month -- Glaucoma Prevention

May is Healthy Vision Month – a month to promote vision health and safety. We are all aware that our eyesight can be affected by both injury and disease. One disease, which causes blindness, is preventable but is sometimes overlooked. This disease is known as glaucoma and affects approximately three million Americans each year. Loss of sight from glaucoma occurs through the damaging of the optic nerve. Many times, damage occurs due to elevated pressure within the eye; however, even people with normal pressure in their eyes can lose their vision due to glaucoma. It is possible for the disease to gradually steal sight without warning. In fact, during the early stages of the disease, there may be no symptoms at all. Experts have estimated that half of the people that have been affected by glaucoma may not even know they have it!
At the present time, there is no cure for glaucoma but medication or surgery can slow or prevent the loss of vision. The type of treatment utilized will vary; however, the most important aspect of treatment is EARLY DETECTION! This is vital to slowing or stopping the progress of the disease. Education which promotes and encourages regular comprehensive eye exams through dilated pupils is another way to decrease the spread of this disease.