Did you know that it is possible for you to lose a portion of your vision, without even noticing that a change occurred? Glaucoma can cause you to experience vision loss, and sometimes patients don’t realize that a problem is occurring until it is too late.
Stealing Your Eye Sight
Glaucoma is known as a scary eye disease, because it is the thief of sight. Most people don’t experience any symptoms that indicate that something is wrong with the eyes, and when the problem is discovered it is too late to save the vision. Once your vision has been lost, it is a permanent change!
Since there are no early symptoms of glaucoma, it is essential that you visit an eye doctor on a regular basis. These check-ups are beneficial to look for signs that you might be suffering from an eye disease, in order to use the right treatment that is needed to protect your eyes. Early detection is essential to help you avoid vision loss.
Occurrence of Glaucoma
It is estimated that more than four million people in the United States suffer from glaucoma, but half of these people don’t realize that they have this eye disease. Glaucoma is more common than many people realize, and it is actually considered the leading cause of vision loss that is preventable.
There are certain risk factors that might increase the likelihood of glaucoma. For example, it has been found that Latino and African American populations have a higher risk compared to Caucasians. Genetics is another risk factor, because it has been found that people have a higher risk of this disease if they have with family members who have glaucoma. Additionally, people with severe nearsightedness or diabetes also have a higher risk for glaucoma.
If you are over the age of 60 or if you have any of the risk factors listed above, then it is important that you visit the eye doctor on a regular basis. The suggestion is usually an annual eye exam, although there are some situations where your eye doctor might recommend more frequent eye exams.
Treatments for Glaucoma
Unfortunately, there is no cure for glaucoma, but there are some treatments that can be considered. If you have been diagnosed with this eye disease, then your eye doctor will talk with you about the treatment options that are available in order to find the best method for your individual situation. Glaucoma treatments might include medication or surgery, and the treatment is determined based on the severity of your eye health.
Have you been to the eye doctor recently for an exam? Right now is a great opportunity to schedule an appointment in order to see if there are any concerns with your eye health. For more information about glaucoma and other eye diseases, the best thing that you can do is talk with an experienced eye doctor. Call us at Village Eyecare to schedule an appointment and protect your vision. We are here to answer your questions and help you maintain healthy eyes!