Glaucoma Awareness Month

Called the “sneak thief of sight,” glaucoma is the leading cause of preventable blindness. The Glaucoma Research Foundation dedicates January as Glaucoma Awareness Month. According to the foundation, more than 2.7 million Americans have glaucoma and that number continues to grow.

Glaucoma is an asymptomatic disease. It can steal your sight without warning.  People of African-American, Hispanic or Asian descent are at a higher risk for developing the disease. People over 60 years of age, those with diabetes, families of those in whom glaucoma already is diagnosed and people who are seriously nearsighted are also at high risk.

The BrightFocus Foundation encourages high-risk candidates to have a comprehensive, dilated-pupil eye examination at least every two years. If diagnosed with glaucoma, treatment can begin at once.

Additional resources are available through the Glaucoma Research Foundation and BrightFocus Foundation.

Sandra Hoban

Sandra Hoban was on I Advance Senior Care / Long-Term Living’s editorial staff for 17 years. She is one of the country’s longest-serving senior care journalists. Before joining Long-Term Living, she was a member of the promotions department at Advanstar Communications. In addition to her editorial experience, Sandi has served past roles in print and broadcast advertising as a traffic and talent coordinator.