January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month, and we at Guilford Eye Center like to do our part by spreading the word about glaucoma to our beloved patients. According to The National Eye Institute, more than 3 million people in the United States alone are suffering from glaucoma, and it is projected that this number will reach 4.2 million by 2030. In today’s post, a trusted eye doctor shares three important facts that everyone needs to know about glaucoma.
Fact #1: Glaucoma Is the Leading Cause of Blindness
The scary thing about glaucoma is that it can cause blindness if left untreated. There is a good reason why eye doctors sometimes refer to glaucoma as the “sneak thief of sight”. Even with proper treatment, approximately 10% of people who suffer from glaucoma still experience some form of vision loss including blindness.
Fact #2: There May Be No Symptoms to Give You Warning
Another scary fact about glaucoma is that there are virtually no symptoms. With open-angle glaucoma, which is the most common type, there is no pain or increased eye pressure to warn you and you may not even notice anything wrong until there is already significant vision loss. The best way to protect your eyes from glaucoma is to get an eye exam.
Fact #3: Glaucoma Does Not Discriminate
While glaucoma primarily affects middle-aged and elderly people, it really does not discriminate between people and can affect everyone from babies to seniors. In fact, approximately 1 of out every 10,000 babies born in the United States are born with glaucoma. It is also important to note that African Americans in particular are especially susceptible at a younger age.
Guilford Eye Center provides trusted eye care, plus a wide selection of eyeglasses to residents of Greensboro, NC, as well as its surrounding areas. To set up a consultation, please give us a call at (336) 292-4516, or fill out our contact form. One of our team members will be happy to assist you.
