Vision Loss from the “Sneak Thief of Sight” Can Be Diminished with Early Diagnosis and Treatment
Prevent Blindness Wisconsin Joins in National Glaucoma Awareness
Month in Effort to Save Sight from Second Leading Cause of Blindness
As part of January’s National Glaucoma Awareness Month, Prevent Blindness Wisconsin is joining with other leading eye health organizations in encouraging everyone to educate themselves on the disease as well as make a New Year’s resolution to make eye health a priority.
Glaucoma has long been termed the “sneak thief of sight” because it slowly takes away vision, often without the patient even realizing it. Glaucoma damages the optic nerve which sends information from the eyes to the brain. When the optic nerve is damaged, peripheral vision begins to diminish. If left untreated, over time, glaucoma may also damage central vision. Unfortunately, once symptoms are detected, the effectiveness of treatment diminishes. Once vision is lost, it cannot be restored.
Risk factors for glaucoma include advancing age, family history, nearsightedness, eye injury or surgery and the use of steroid medications. Race is another major risk factor as, according to the National Eye Institute, glaucoma is five times more likely to occur in blacks than in whites and blacks are four times more likely to go blind from it. Hispanics are more likely to develop glaucoma after age 60 than any other group.
Prevent Blindness Wisconsin and Prevent Blindness America provide free resources to educate consumers on glaucoma, including treatment options and general information at “The Glaucoma Learning Center,” a free website at www.preventblindess.org/glaucoma. Free printed materials are available by request including the “Guide for People with Glaucoma.” This comprehensive booklet serves as a handbook for patients and includes information on what to expect during treatment and even a list of questions to ask the eye doctor.
The Glaucoma Learning Center also hosts the “Glaucoma Web Discussion Forum” that allows patients and caregivers the opportunity to discuss online all subjects related to the disease. Topics range from general information on the condition and its treatment, to shared experiences and emotional support.
“We want to stress to everyone that vision can be saved from glaucoma through early diagnosis and treatment,” said Barbara W. Armstrong, Executive Director of Prevent Blindness Wisconsin. “Please visit our website or call our toll-free number to get all the free information you can to educate yourself on risk factors, treatment options and even Medicare coverage. Let’s all commit to make 2012 the year to make our eyes a priority and save our sight!”
To view & print the Glaucoma 17 Point Checklist, click here
To view & print the Glaucoma Eye Q Test, click here
For more information on glaucoma or other eye diseases, please call Prevent Blindness Wisconsin at 414.765.0505 or visit Prevent Blindness Wisconsin’s website.
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For over 50 years, Prevent Blindness Wisconsin has pursued its mission to prevent blindness and preserve sight. An affiliate of Prevent Blindness America, Prevent Blindness Wisconsin provides free vision screenings to preschool children, school age children, and adults. It also provides public and professional education in vision health, safety, and vision loss prevention.
Prevent Blindness Wisconsin is the only non profit organization in the state providing these services. Since 1958 Prevent Blindness Wisconsin has screened more than 5 million children and over 230,000 adults. Prevent Blindness Wisconsin receives no government money, and relies entirely on the public and business community for support of its sight saving services. For more information or to make a sight saving contribution, call (414) 765-0505.