Glaucoma Awareness Month 2023

January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month. Over three million people in the country have glaucoma, with an estimated 60 million people worldwide. The National Eye Institute projects that 4.2 million Americans will have glaucoma by 2030, a 58 percent increase.

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a condition that can cause blindness and vision loss, damaging the optic nerve because of increased eye pressure. An optic nerve is a group of nerve fibers that send visual information from the eye to the brain. If it gets damaged, it results in poor vision. Secondary glaucoma occurs when a different disease causes or contributes to increased eye pressure, damaging the optic nerve and causing vision loss.

Glaucoma is the top cause of irreversible blindness. It is a slowly progressive condition, meaning half of the almost three million Americans living with glaucoma won’t notice it. A person can lose as much as 40% of vision without notice. Once vision is lost, it’s permanent.

The importance of glaucoma screening

It is vital to have an eye doctor examine your eyes at least once a year. In addition, you need to have a basic understanding of glaucoma tests to make informed decisions about the treatment.

“Screen, protect, cure”

On January 3, 2023, The Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF) launched the “Screen, protect, cure” campaign in the United States. Designed with the goal of providing resources to educate and raise awareness of glaucoma during Glaucoma Awareness Month.

This month, many institutions and authorities will share resources to educate individuals at risk for glaucoma and encourage them to take an active and informed role in their eye health.

At Signature Health Services, we are deeply concerned about the eye health of our community. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with glaucoma, we can provide you with any information regarding the disease. Furthermore, you can call us at any time for assistance.