Maryland Society for Sight

JANUARY IS GLAUCOMA AWARENESS MONTH

Don’t Be Blind-Sided by Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases which damages the optic nerve and causes vision loss or blindness if left untreated. It is estimated that more than 45,000 Marylanders have glaucoma. Even more surprising is that over 45,000 more don’t even know they have it. It is important to protect your sight and know the facts about glaucoma.

Glaucoma is often called the “sneak thief of sight”, because in the majority of patients, there are no significant warning signs. Vision stays normal, and there is no pain. However, as the disease progresses, a person with glaucoma may notice his or her side vision gradually failing. As the disease worsens, the field of vision narrows and blindness results.

Glaucoma is found most often during an eye examination through dilated pupils. This allows the eye care professional to see more of the inside of the eye to check for signs of glaucoma. Glaucoma screenings and dilated eye exams are the keys to detecting the early signs of glaucoma while the disease can be treated.

Vision lost due to glaucoma cannot be restored. There is no cure for glaucoma, but with early diagnosis and proper treatment, glaucoma can be controlled. The most common treatments for glaucoma are medications in the form of eye drops and pills, and laser surgery. Surgery to help the fluid escape from the eye and thereby reduce the pressure can be used for patients whose pressure cannot be controlled with eye drops, pills, or laser surgery.

Anyone can develop glaucoma, but people at higher risk can include:

Blacks over age 40
Everyone over age 60
People with a family history of glaucoma
People with diabetes
People who have suffered a serious eye injury
People taking steroid medications over a long period of time

Protect your vision. People at higher risk of glaucoma should get a dilated eye exam every one to two years. Early detection and treatment can maintain your vision.

The Maryland Society for Sight’s Glaucoma Screening and Awareness Program is supported with a generous grant from the Friends of the Congressional Glaucoma Caucus Foundation.

For more information on glaucoma and upcoming glaucoma screening events, please call us at 410-243-2020 or 10800-MSS-EYES or email us at info@mdsocietyforsight.org.

Information from “Don’t Lose Sight of Glaucoma”, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health.

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