By: La’Kayla Bias, nutraMetrix Program Coordinator
Does 20/20 vision even exist anymore? With the increased use of screen time on our phones or the binge-watching of our favorite series, the overall health of our eyesight has become the last thing on our minds. According to Eyes-on-Eyes Care, since 2020 the number of people with glaucoma worldwide has surpassed 80 million and is expected to pass 111 million by 2040. With that in mind, it’s more important than ever for eyecare practitioners around the world to expand their knowledge of glaucoma. (1)
January is Glaucoma Awareness Month. The term glaucoma is defined as a condition that can cause vision loss and blindness by damaging a nerve in the back of your eye called the optic nerve. The symptoms can begin gradually, so often you might not notice the change. The only way to find out for certain is to have a comprehensive dilated eye exam done. There is no true cure for glaucoma, but early exams establish an opportunity to stop the damage from spreading and protect your vision. (2)
There are many types of glaucoma, but the two most common types are Open-Angle and Angle-Closure. Open-Angle Glaucoma is a chronic, progressive, and irreversible multifactorial optic neuropathy that is characterized by an open angle of the anterior chamber, optic nerve head changes, and progressive loss of peripheral vision. (3) Angle-Closure Glaucoma is associated with a physically obstructed anterior chamber angle, which may be chronic or acute. (4) Some of the risk factors of glaucoma are high eye pressure, a family history of glaucoma, the cornea, and an optic nerve appearance with increased cupping. African Americans over 40 years old and Hispanic Americans over 60 years old are at a higher risk of developing glaucoma. Therefore, awareness is so important because the more you know, the faster you can catch it before it begins to spread.
There are things you can do to help keep your eyes healthy and make sure you are seeing your best:
- Eat a healthy balanced diet.
- Get regular exercise.
- Wear sunglasses.
- Avoid Smoking.
- Know your family’s medical history.
- Get tested.
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