Glaucoma Awareness
National Glaucoma Awareness Month in Tallahassee
Happy New Year! Can you believe that 2015 has already come and gone? January is National Glaucoma Awareness month. Most people don’t know that this vision threatening disease currently affects over four million Americans who are over the age of 40. Big Bend Family Eye Care wants you to know that nearly half of those with glaucoma are not even aware that they have it. Are you one of them?
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is defined as a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve and destroy eyesight. It is often called the “Silent Killer” because it is painless and you get a gradual loss of vision. Big Bend Family Eye Care wants you to know that it may have no early warning signs, but when you come in for your annual comprehensive eye exam, we can detect it when we dilate your eyes. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this silent killer is the second leading cause of blindness in the world.
Who is at Risk for Glaucoma?
Anyone can be susceptible to glaucoma. The National Eye Institute believes everyone at higher risk for it receive a should get a comprehensive dilated eye exam every one to two years. But who really is at high risk for developing this eye disease? Glaucoma can target certain races of people.
- African Americans over age 40
- Everyone over age 60, especially Mexican Americans
- People with a family history of the disease