Understanding Glaucoma: What You Need to Know During Glaucoma Awareness Month

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month, which means it's time to learn about glaucoma and how to keep your eyes healthy. 

Glaucoma is an eye disease that can cause blindness if not treated. In most cases of glaucoma, vision loss is the result of abnormally high pressure that damages the optic nerve. Glaucoma can develop at any age, but it's more common in people over 60 years old.

In its early stages, glaucoma may not cause any symptoms. By the time a patient notices vision loss, significant and irreversible damage may have already occurred.

Types of Glaucoma:

1. Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma: This is the most common type. It happens slowly and you might not notice any changes in your vision until it’s serious.

2. Angle-Closure Glaucoma: This type happens quickly and is very serious. It can cause a sudden increase in eye pressure and needs immediate medical attention.

Why Eye Exams Are Important:

Because glaucoma can sneak up on you, getting regular eye exams is really important. Eye doctors can catch glaucoma early, before it causes too much damage. Experts say that adults should have a full eye exam by age 40. If you have a family history of glaucoma or are at higher risk, you might need to see the eye doctor more often.

Glaucoma Treatment:

While there’s no cure for glaucoma, there are ways to manage it and protect your vision:

1. Eye Drops: Doctors often prescribe special eye drops that help lower eye pressure.

2. Laser Treatments and Surgery: If eye drops aren’t enough, doctors may suggest laser treatments or surgery to help drain fluid from the eye. 

3. Prophylactic Peripheral Laser Iridotomy: Doctors might recommend this procedure for people who have narrow drainage angles in their eyes or who are at high risk for angle-closure glaucoma. It’s a preventive measure that reduces the risk of high eye pressure that can lead to angle-closure glaucoma.

Keeping Your Eyes Healthy:

Besides regular eye exams, here are some tips to keep your eyes in good shape:

1. Regular exercise, which may help reduce eye pressure.

2. A healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and omega-3 fatty acids.

3. Protecting your eyes from injury by wearing protective eyewear when necessary.

Spread the word about glaucoma and encourage friends and family to schedule their eye exams this January. Early detection is key to combating this silent thief of sight.