January is Glaucoma Awareness Month

January is a time when the holidays start to wind down and New Year’s resolutions are pursued – but did you know it’s also Glaucoma Awareness Month? It’s not just a great tidbit for your next trivia night – Glaucoma Awareness Month brings to light one of the biggest causes of vision degeneration and blindness in America.  In fact, it’s thought that over two million Americans over the age of 40 are affected by this disease, with another whopping two million individuals unaware that they have this potentially blinding disease. 

The reason why glaucoma can be so debilitating is because there are no early symptoms of this disease; therefore, by the time patients notice their diminishing vision (usually the peripheral vision goes first), it’s too late.  What’s more, there’s no treatment for restoring vision that’s lost as a result of glaucoma.   

Fortunately, when caught early, it is possible to minimize the vision damage caused by glaucoma. Additionally, some groups have a higher risk of developing glaucoma than others, which makes it important for these individuals to schedule regular appointments with their ophthalmologist.  These groups include:

• High-risk American groups, including Hispanics and African-Americans. Elderly people within these groups carry the highest risk for developing glaucoma
• Individuals with a family history of glaucoma and other eye diseases

If your family history and ethnicity increase your risk for developing glaucoma – or you’re over the age of 65 – you should schedule regular eye exams. You should also be on the lookout for the following symptoms:

• Eye pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Blurred vision
• Red eye
• Loss of peripheral vision
• Halos around lights, especially at night

If you’ve experienced any of these symptoms – or you have a family history of glaucoma – it’s important to schedule regular exams with your ophthalmologist. At the Center for Ophthalmology and Laser Surgery – serving the greater Fort Lauderdale, FL and surrounding Florida areas – Dr. Loeffler and his staff members are dedicated to protecting your vision against the symptoms and development of glaucoma.  Schedule an appointment with Dr. Loeffler today to learn more about glaucoma and your treatment options. (954) 786-5353