Scary Truths About Glaucoma in Seniors And What to Do About Them

Senior adults over 60 are a high risk group for developing glaucoma. Most people avoid taking these simple steps to detect glaucoma early before it causes blindness.

Learn how to fight Glaucoma to protect your eyes

Glaucoma is THE leading cause of blindness in the USA and over 3 million Americans are currently living with the condition. The most common form of glaucoma is open angle glaucoma – and 90% of those 3 million afflicted with it are over the age of 40

Here are some eye-opening facts about glaucoma followed by some helpful hints to reduce your risk of developing the disorder:

FACT #1: 50% of people with glaucoma don’t know they have it!

The most common form of glaucoma, open-angle, has almost no apparent symptoms. This means that 1.5 million Americans have glaucoma and may not even realize it

FACT #2: There is no cure for glaucoma

Unfortunately, the only thing to do is treat it early to reduce its effects. Adopting healthier eating habits and visiting your optometrist regularly are some of the best ways to reduce the risk of developing any form of glaucoma.

FACT #3: These groups are at a higher risk of developing glaucoma:

• People over 60

• People who have a family history of glaucoma (hereditary)

• People with diabetes

• People with severe nearsightedness

What Can You Do About It?

Get an Annual Eye Exam

Since symptoms are not always apparent, it is extremely important that you receive annual check ups from a certified optometrist. These exams could mean the difference between identifying and slowing down glaucoma early versus losing your eyesight.

Don’t Disregard Warning Signs

Severe eye pressure, loss of peripheral vision, and other symptoms can slowly increase over time as the condition develops. If you feel pain or start having trouble seeing, immediately see an optometrist for guidance.

Rely On a Caregiver’s Specialty

How often do you feel discomfort, not just related to your eyes, and brush it off? Sometimes this is a temporary issue. In other cases, it is a sign of a developing condition.

A caregiver can be right there to help you get treated when symptoms develop or if glaucoma has already developed.

A caregiver can help you with the following:

• take you to your eye appointments

• remind you to take prescribed medication

• provide care after eye surgery

We may not be able to cure glaucoma today, but right now is the perfect time to start fighting it!

http://www.brightfocus.org/facts-data/glaucoma

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2798086/

http://www.glaucoma.org/glaucoma/glaucoma-facts-and-stats.php