Episode 1: Glaucoma. Are You at Risk? (January Health/Lifestyle Series)

January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month. There are over 3 million people in the United States and over 60 million people worldwide with the disease. According to the World Health Organization, over 4 million people are blind because of Glaucoma.

African-Americans and Latinos are more vulnerable to this disease than Caucasians. After cataracts, glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness among African Americans and people of African descent.

Glaucoma 101

Glaucoma is a cluster of eye diseases that progressively causes blindness, sometimes without much notice. Glaucoma is mainly found in middle-aged people and the elderly; however, it can affect people of all ages, including very young people. There are two types of glaucoma: primary open-angle glaucoma and angle-closure glaucoma. Both forms cause increased pressure inside of the eyes. When the optic nerve has been damaged, despite normal eye pressure, this is known as normal tension glaucoma. When a person has other diseases that cause or contribute to increased eye pressure, this is called secondary glaucoma. Both lead to vision loss.

Prevention

Getting a thorough eye examination is the best way to protect your vision. If you are diagnosed with glaucoma, receiving immediate treatment will help to prolong your eye-sight as long as possible. However it is inevitable that a person will lose his/her vision. There is currently no cure for glaucoma. Research is being done daily to find a cure.

Are You at Risk?

People most at risk for glaucoma are: Africans (and people of African descent); Asians, and people of Hispanic/Latino descent. Other risk factors include: people over 60, people with family members that have glaucoma, diabetics, steroid users, people that are severely near-sighted, and people with high blood pressure.

For more information on glaucoma please visit the Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF) at http://www.glaucoma.org/

The GRF has a free booklet that can be shipped anywhere in the United States and Canada. There is also a downloadable copy on their website for those living outside of North America.

Remember prevention is key. Get your eyes checked.

**Also be on the lookout for the other 5 topic episodes throughout the month of January. 

Ciao!

Andrea