Glaucoma: The Disease That Steals Your Sight
Did you know that as much as 40% of your vision can be lost due to glaucoma – without your notice?
That’s why they call glaucoma the “sneak thief of sight.” There are no symptoms, and once your vision is lost, it’s permanent. This is one of the urgent messages of National Glaucoma Awareness Month, which takes place every January. (And for good reason – according to a National Eye Institute survey, only 8% of Americans are aware of the fact that glaucoma has no early symptoms.)
Over four million Americans have glaucoma, and given its stealth progression, approximately half of them don’t know it. The leading cause of preventable blindness, glaucoma is more prevalent in African American and Latino populations. For example, it is six to eight times more prevalent in African Americans than Caucasians. People who are severely nearsighted, have diabetes or who have family members with glaucoma are also at higher risk.
While there is no cure for glaucoma, there are treatments (including medication and surgery) that can help slow or prevent vision loss. That’s why it’s so important to have regular eye exams, especially if you are over 60. The disease can strike at younger ages, though, as the data from our glaucoma community at PatientsLikeMe shows. Of the 107 members reporting the disease, approximately 60% are between the ages of 40 and 59.
Haven’t been to the eye doctor in a while? Make an appointment today for your peace of mind.
I remember when my dad got glaucoma…seemed like it just happened out of nowhere.
And if he had had regular eye exams, he would have been able to prevent or at least slow the progress.
I can’t urge anyone reading this enough, make sure your family members get regular eye exams!!
tara
Comment by tara — August 17, 2012 @ 11:02 am
Glaucoma hit me out of the blue in September just gone 2012. Felt nauseous and “spaced out” so eventually took myself off to bed. By 3.a.m. next morning was being violently sick and sight in left eye began disappearing, also had a terrible pain in the back of my head near base of skull. Called an ambulance and was whipped of the hospital. Put me on a drip and gave me anti nauseau tabs. When I insisted that I could not see properly pot of left eye they referred me to Eye Department in hospital where they found the pressure in my left eye was sky high. Promptly got to work on me and brought it down,then sent me home. After about a week I returned and everything seemed to have settled but they insisted on doing laser treatment (on two occasions). Unfortunately, this has not worked any they want to operate on 13th Jan. Now could someone please advise me re having this op as I feel had I not had the laser treatment everything would be back to normal. Instead I did as they advised and I am now worse. I am very, very nervous and anxious now and they say they will do it under anesthetic(?), What should I do. Any advice greatly appreciated.
I also have CFS/FM/Cs as well.
Many thanks.
Comment by Avril Jones — December 30, 2012 @ 12:57 pm
How scary, Avril! I’m glad you’re doing okay and working to find a effective treatment. While we’re not medical professionals and cannot give medical advice, I suggest you join http://www.PatientsLikeMe.com and reach out to others with glaucoma to learn from their experiences.
http://www.patientslikeme.com/patients?sc231has_it=true
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Best wishes,
Liz Morgan, PatientsLikeMe Community Manager
Comment by Liz Morgan — January 7, 2013 @ 11:41 am