January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month, an important time to spread the word about this sight-stealing disease. Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness. Anyone can get glaucoma, but there are some who are at a greater risk of getting it. For example, your risk of developing glaucoma increases with age. Adults over the age of 60 are six times more likely to suffer from glaucoma.
Glaucoma is a disease that damages the optic nerve in your eye. Disease typically happens when fluid builds up in the eye, causing pressure and damaging the optic nerve. This disease is more common among older adults. Below are a few things you need to know about glaucoma if you’re a senior, have an aging loved one, or provide caregiving services for seniors.
Keep an Eye Out for these Signs of Glaucoma
The sings of glaucoma are as follows:
1. Development of blind spots
2. Impaired vision of any kind
3. Nausea or any severe pain
4. Redness of the eye
The glaucoma foundation recommends that everyone 40 years or older should have an eye exam every one and a half to two years. At this time there is no cure for glaucoma, and no way to reverse vision loss. There are however treatments that can help to reduce symptoms and slow down the progression of the disease. The best treatment for glaucoma is early detection. It’s vital to diagnose glaucoma in the early stages of the disease. Doctors typically rely on three methods to treat glaucoma: medicine, laser treatment, and surgery.
With our aging population, we can see an epidemic of blindness looming if we don’t raise awareness about the importance of regular eye examinations to preserve vision. Preventing and treating glaucoma in older adults is a team effort where you must take a proactive role in your health, which includes your vision. Here at Maximum Care, we have a team of professionals ready to help you. We can be reached at (610) 264-2353. A list of the services we provide, locations we serve, and who we are can be found on our website page on www.maximumcareinc.com
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