Glaucoma is a leading cause of vision loss and blindness in the United States — especially for African Americans and older adults. Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can cause vision loss and blindness by damaging a nerve in the back of your eye called the optic nerve. Unfortunately, half of the people with glaucoma don’t know they have it.
Glaucoma doesn’t have any symptoms at first, but over time it can cause peripheral (side) vision loss and blindness. That’s why we need your help to get the word out about glaucoma. There’s no cure for glaucoma, but treatment can often stop the damage and prevent further vision loss. People who are at risk for glaucoma need to know what steps they can take to help protect their vision. There’s no cure for glaucoma but starting treatment as early as possible can help stop vision loss.
The only way to check for glaucoma is to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam.
Anyone can get glaucoma, but some people are at higher risk. You’re at higher risk if you:
- Are African American and over age 40
- Are over age 60, especially if you’re Hispanic/Latino
- Have a family history of glaucoma
Talk with your doctor about your risk for glaucoma and ask how often you need to get checked. If you’re at higher risk, you need to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam every 1 to 2 years.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with glaucoma, you may have questions about what this means. There’s no cure for glaucoma, but here’s the good news — it can be treated. And starting treatment early is the best way to stop the damage and protect your vision.
Talk to your eye doctor about your symptoms and treatment options. Visiting the doctor can be stressful, especially when you’re dealing with a new diagnosis.
It helps to have questions written down ahead of time when visiting your doctor:
- What type of glaucoma do I have?
- How often do I need to get a checkup for my glaucoma?
- What are my treatment options?
- What will happen if I don’t get treated for my glaucoma?
- How will I know if my treatment is working?
- What are the possible dangers or side effects from treatment?
- Does glaucoma put me at risk for other eye diseases?
- What can I expect for my vision — now and in the future?
- Are there any activities I should avoid?
This Glaucoma Awareness Month, join the National Eye Health Education Program in encouraging everyone at higher risk for glaucoma to get a dilated eye exam. It’s the best way to protect your vision!
Source: NIH, National Eye Institute
