There are several types of eye disorders that are referred to as glaucoma. However, they all cause vision loss in the same way. The disorder occurs due to the buildup of fluid around the front of the eye.  This buildup causes pressure that damages the eye’s optic nerve and can result in eventual blindness.

Fortunately, there are ways to treat glaucoma, which is why generating awareness is so important. January was designated National Glaucoma Awareness Month.

Why Is Glaucoma Awareness So Important?

Glaucoma can lead to permanent blindness. In fact, it’s the leading cause of blindness in people over 60 years old. There is no cure.

It’s vital that you catch glaucoma in the beginning stages if you have it. One of the reasons why it can be successfully treated before permanent blindness sets in is because glaucoma only affects one eye at first. Although you can’t restore lost vision, there are medications, surgeries, and laser treatments available that can help by slowing down the progression of glaucoma.

Diagnosing the condition in its beginning stages can help prevent you from going blind.

What Are the Signs of Glaucoma?

There are two kinds of glaucoma: open-angle and acute angle-closure. Open-angle glaucoma symptoms include blind spots and tunnel vision. 

Acute angle-closure glaucoma has many symptoms, including:

• Blurred vision
• Eye pain
• Eye redness
• Headaches
• Light halos
• Nausea

If you begin experiencing any of these symptoms regularly, you must go to an eye doctor right away for an eye exam. The sooner your glaucoma can be diagnosed, the sooner it can be treated. Not all cases of glaucoma result in symptoms right away, which is why you should schedule a regular checkup with your eye doctor in Southern California as you grow older.

January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month

Increasing glaucoma awareness is critical to making sure people maintain their eyesight, especially as they grow older. Be aware of glaucoma symptoms and schedule regular visits to the eye doctor.

For more about health awareness, visit us at The Benefits Store today.