5 Crucial Things to Know About Glaucoma

January is Declared as Glaucoma Awareness Month

Start the New Year right by prioritizing not just your physical well-being but also your vision health. As you draft your resolutions for a healthier year, remember that feeling your best includes seeing your best too. To amplify awareness on eye health, January marks Glaucoma Awareness Month, a pivotal campaign supported by the American Association of Ophthalmology and backed by the Hawaiian Eye Center. It’s time to enrich your knowledge on eye health, so this year, consider adding learning about glaucoma to your list of health goals!

In doing our part to help, we have provided 5 crucial facts about Glaucoma we think everyone should be aware of:

1. The first step to learning more about Glaucoma is to understand what it is. Glaucoma is an eye condition that when left untreated, will lead to blindness. Glaucoma is caused by fluid build-up in your eye, resulting in high eye pressure that can damage the optic nerve. These vital nerves transfer visual images to your brain, and damage to the nerves results in irreversible vision loss or impairment. While prevalent among individuals aged 60 and above, Glaucoma can manifest at any point in life.
2. Glaucoma impacts roughly 3 million Americans and stands as the second leading cause of global blindness. Shockingly, half of those affected are unaware they even have it. This is because Glaucoma typically remains asymptomatic in the early stages, leading to undetected damage until it progresses significantly.
3. Glaucoma can be caused for a number of reasons. Most often, it is caused by hereditary or is a gene that can be passed down, or may be a result of other hereditary disorders or underlying medical conditions. Some people are at higher risk than others. African Americans over 40, adults over 60 – especially Hispanics/Latinos, and people with a family history of glaucoma are at higher risk, making early detection especially important. It is important to know your family’s health history, as children and siblings of those with glaucoma or typically the most at risk.
4. Lifestyle choices may have a huge impact on an individual’s Glaucoma risks. Scientific studies have shown that smokers have significantly higher odds of developing Glaucoma than non-smokers. There is also what is known as “traumatic glaucoma” which may be a result of serious injury from sports or power tools, chemical or blunt injuries to the eyes, or previous severe eye infections. On the flip side, there are many lifestyle changes that can be made to help reduce the risk of developing glaucoma. Medical research shows that running and regular exercise reduces intraocular pressure, the primary modifiable risk factor for glaucoma. In addition, diets rich in antioxidants, fruits and vegetables, help maintain healthy blood pressure and blood glucose concentrations, thus reducing substantial risk for glaucoma.
5. As discussed earlier, there are typically no early symptoms for Glaucoma which means no early warning signs, no pain, no discomfort, and no blurry vision. This can create a huge challenge for early detection with this condition, so we highly advise that you do not wait for symptoms to visit your eye doctor. The only way to know if you have glaucoma is by getting a comprehensive dilated eye exam. During the exam, an eye care professional places drops in your eyes to widen the pupils and looks for signs of the disease in the optic nerve.

Now that you’re equipped with valuable insights into glaucoma, make a commitment this year to foster healthier vision. Schedule your next comprehensive dilated eye exam at Hawaiian Eye Center today to safeguard your eyesight for the future. Trust us, your eyes will thank you later! Don’t forget to encourage your friends and family to take the same proactive steps toward better eye health in 2024.