Regular Eye Exams Can Save Vision – January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month
Eye disease can gradually diminishes vision without warning; regular screenings important in detecting condition
January 8, 2010 (Louisville, KY) –
Glaucoma affects over 2 million Americans and is the leading cause of blindness among African-Americans and the second leading cause of blindness in all Americans.
Despite this it is estimated that half of those suffering from the disease in this country remain undiagnosed. January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month and John-Kenyon American Eye Institute is urging baby-boomers to get regular eye examinations to help preserve their vision.
Screening is so important because Glaucoma is a disease that gradually takes an individual's sight without warning. Although the most common forms of the disease primarily affect middle-aged adults and the elderly, glaucoma has no age boundaries. Glaucoma is the leading cause of preventable blindness and can affect people of all age groups, including infants and children. Those at high risk of getting the disease are African-Americans, individuals of Latino ancestry, persons over age 60, and immediate family members of those who have been diagnosed with glaucoma. More than 3 million Americans and about 70 million people worldwide have the disease, with most being unaware that they have it. Because peripheral or side vision loss begins first, a person may not be aware he has the disease until he has lost a large amount of his sight.
“Glaucoma can sneak up on people and by the time they realize they have the condition, their vision has already been compromised,” said Dr. Howard Lazarus, retinal specialist at the John-Kenyon American Eye Institute. “With your regular eye exams, your doctor can monitor your vision and detect early signs of glaucoma which can help save your vision.”
The two most common types of the disease are primary open angle glaucoma--which is hereditary, and angle closure glaucoma. If an individual has been diagnosed with glaucoma, he should let his family know that they are at an increased risk of getting the disease. To prevent glaucoma, at risk individuals and persons over age 40 should have regular eye exams that include measurement of eye pressure, and a careful evaluation of the optic nerve, which is the part of the eye that sends images of what a person sees to the brain.
For more information on glaucoma, visit www.johnkenyon.com or the American Glaucoma Society http://www.glaucomaweb.org.