Glaucoma Awareness Month: Tell a Friend about “The Sneak Thief of Sight”

Ron Guiley OD, MPH, FAAO
January 1, 2019

Glaucoma is a disease that is snatching vision from 3 million Americans, and this statistic is expected to rise by 58 percent by 2030.

Thanks to Your Sight Matters for this informative article:

Tell a Friend about “The Sneak Thief of Sight” during Glaucoma Awareness Month

Among eye diseases, glaucoma is probably the sneakiest. There are no symptoms of glaucoma, and the only warning sign of the disease is reduced peripheral vision. You probably will be surprised by this, but you can actually lose around 40 percent of your vision without even noticing. Unfortunately, by the time you notice, it is too late; once vision is lost, it is permanent. January is Glaucoma Awareness Month, a time that you can inform yourself and those you love about the sneakiness—and permanence—of this eye disease.

Before you can spread awareness about glaucoma, you need to know the facts. Glaucoma is related to increased pressure inside the eye, a process that is usually painless and completely unnoticeable in the early stages. Spikes in eye pressure can damage the optic nerve, which is responsible for transmitting visual messages to the brain. This damage is irreparable, and vision loss will progress until glaucoma is diagnosed and treatment begins.

Yes, glaucoma is appropriately nicknamed “the sneak thief of sight.” This disease is snatching vision from 3 million Americans, and the National Eye Institute expects glaucoma statistics to rise by 58 percent by 2030. Many glaucoma sufferers are unaware that they have the disease, which means that they are losing a small fraction of their vision every day.

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