The Risk of Glaucoma As Our Eyes Age

The Value of Routine Eye Exams During Glaucoma Awareness Month 

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness in the United States, and it poses a serious risk to older adults. What makes glaucoma especially dangerous is that it often has no noticeable symptoms in its early stages. 

For Glaucoma Awareness Month this month, Hawaiian Eye Center wants to alert families and kupuna across Hawaiʻi that the best protection against glaucoma-related blindness is routine, comprehensive eye exams. These exams allow eye doctors to detect glaucoma early—before significant vision loss occurs—and begin treatments to help preserve and protect sight.

“We want to make sure families across Hawaii know: early detection can help protect your eyesight,” says Dr. Steven Rhee, D.O., Medical Director for Hawaiian Eye Center. “Vision loss from glaucoma can happen slowly and painlessly, so many people do not realize they have the disease until their eyesight has already been permanently affected.”

Nearly 3% of adults over 40 are diagnosed with glaucoma nationally – and that number is about 2 % across Hawaii. Routine eye exams can help support your eyes as they age – protecting your eyesight and ensuring a better life for years to come.