The first month of the new year is ready to bring awareness to an eye disease affecting many people. January is Glaucoma Awareness Month and draws attention to this condition to bring a better understanding of how it affects the vision of those with it.
Many people are unfamiliar with the early signs and symptoms of glaucoma and realize they have it when it is too late. By bringing awareness to the condition, more people can take proper steps to ensure they don’t get glaucoma in the future.
What Is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is known as the second leading cause of blindness and a complicated disease in the eye caused by damage to the optic nerve and leads to irreversible vision loss.
There are many different types of glaucoma, but these are the standard types:
- Primary Open-angle Glaucoma: This form is when a blockage occurs in the eye’s drainage canals.
- Angle-closure Glaucoma: Commonly known as acute glaucoma and causes the eye drainage canals to get blocked.
- Normal-tension Glaucoma: The optic nerve in this type of glaucoma is damaged even though the eye pressure is not high.
Over three million Americans suffer from glaucoma, and more than nine percent of cases lead to blindness. It is essential always to schedule regular eye exams to help avoid glaucoma from affecting your eyes.
Your Guide for Glaucoma Awareness Month
Spend this month trying to become familiar with this blinding condition affecting so many people every day. Share the information you learn with others to help share the message of Glaucoma Awareness Month.
The elderly and glaucoma
How does glaucoma affect the elderly? It is common for glaucoma to affect people over the age of 60, which makes awareness for the condition relevant to this age group. Talk with your elderly loved one about glaucoma and ask how their visual sensitivity is doing.
No cure is known
Glaucoma doesn’t have a known treatment, making it hard for those suffering from the condition to find help for it. Prevention with regular eye exams helps you avoid the chances of becoming blind because of the eye disease.
Signs of glaucoma
There aren’t familiar signs or symptoms of glaucoma, and for the common open-angle glaucoma, initial loss of side or peripheral vision isn’t noticed and often leads to the irreversible blindness.
Start an omega-3 rich diet
Omega-3 fatty acids do great things for your vision so adding more of them to your diet helps keep your eyes sharp for the fight against glaucoma. Begin introducing them into your elder’s diet to help them strengthen their vision.
Elderly Care to Help with Conditions They Face
Nevada Adult Day Healthcare Centers helps with the conditions many elders have to face every day. Our caregivers on staff in our elderly care programs help give them the care they need. Visit us today to see all of our care programs in action!
