Glaucoma affects 2.7 million Americans aged 40 and over. While this eye condition is often associated with age, glaucoma can develop earlier.
In fact, it can start developing in someone’s forties. Glaucoma has few noticeable symptoms and is often diagnosed once vision loss occurs.
Glaucoma is a degenerative eye disease. Untreated glaucoma will result in eventual blindness, but the condition is treatable! Keep reading to learn more about this eye condition!
Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness
Glaucoma is one of the top causes of blindness worldwide and is second behind cataracts. Glaucoma affects about 2.7 million Americans. Cataracts affect 24.4 million Americans.
Both conditions begin developing as early as a patient’s forties. The big difference between cataracts and glaucoma is there’s no cure for glaucoma. If someone has a cataract, they can have it removed by undergoing cataract surgery.
Vision lost to glaucoma can’t be restored
Early detection and glaucoma treatment is key to minimizing vision loss. Unfortunately, any vision lost to glaucoma is gone for good.
It’s only through regular eye examinations that you can stay ahead of glaucoma. If you are diagnosed with glaucoma early, there are treatment options to consider.
With an early diagnosis, you can save more of your vision being lost to glaucoma. This makes it essential for adults who are 40 and over to see their eye doctors regularly. With comprehensive eye exams, you can stay a step ahead of glaucoma!
Why a dilated eye examination is so important
Your eye doctor will need to dilate your eyes during your eye examination. By dilating your eyes, it is the best way to detect early-stage glaucoma.
Without dilation, the chances are high your eye doctor could miss signs of glaucoma. Nobody likes getting their eyes dilated, but it’s a necessary part of getting eye exams!
How often do you need an eye examination?
How often you will need your eyes examined depends on both your age and your risk level. It’s best to discuss this with your eye doctor.
If you know that you are “high risk” for developing glaucoma, you should go at least every one to two years. For people that are not at high risk, you should still go every few years.
Ultimately, ask your eye doctor if you’re unsure about how often to get a comprehensive eye exam.
Who is at risk?
The simple truth is that every adult 40 and over is at risk of developing glaucoma. Higher risk individuals are people who have a family history of glaucoma.
Other people at higher risk are those that are of African American or Hispanic descent. If you have a condition like high blood pressure or diabetes, you are also at a higher risk for glaucoma.
It’s rare, but babies and young children can also develop congenital glaucoma.
Glaucoma treatment options
Glaucoma might be one of the top causes of blindness, but it is also very treatable in its early stages.
Treatment options include prescribed eye drops, special pills, and laser eye surgical procedures. How your glaucoma will be treated depends on how severe your intraocular pressure is.
Concerned that you may have lost vision due to glaucoma? Schedule a consultation at Takle Eye Group in Griffin, Georgia today!
