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Glaucoma, one
of the leading causes of blindness in the United States, is the
result of a build-up of pressure in the eye, resulting in damage
to the nerve fibers, optic nerve, and blood vessels in the eye.
Cause: Not known, although heredity and age might be factors.
Symptoms: The most common type of glaucoma develops without
symptoms, gradually and painlessly. A rare form occurs rapidly and
its symptoms may include blurred vision, loss of side vision, seeing
colored rings around lights and pain or redness in the eyes. Your
optometrist can detect glaucoma by measuring the internal pressure
of your eye and observing the health of your optic nerve during
a comprehensive eye examination.
What you can do: If you are over 40 or have a family history
of glaucoma, you'll want to schedule a yearly exam. If glaucoma
is detected, you need to take you medication exactly as prescribed.
Good News: If detected early, glaucoma can be controlled.
However, at least half of the people who have glaucoma are not receiving
treatment because they are unaware of their condition. If this disease
is not detected, it can lead to permanent blindness.
At high-risk: Glaucoma is the number one cause of vision
loss in African Americans.
U.S. Health and Human Services Department and MayoClinic.com provided
some of this information.
With life expectancy figures continuing to climb, managing Glaucoma
successfully can be essential for people to live healthy, happy,
and productive lives. By performing a regular, comprehensive eye
exam, your optometrist can successfully detect Glaucoma. Then, your
optometrist can treat Glaucoma in conjunction with your other health
care providers.
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