Did you know 2.7 million Americans have glaucoma and only half of them know it?
January is Glaucoma Awareness Month, the perfect opportunity to have your comprehensive eye examination and glaucoma screening at the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary.
Glaucoma is a group of diseases that damages the eye’s optic nerve, which carries visual signals to the brain. It can lead to vision loss or blindness if left untreated. Glaucoma often has no symptoms in its early stages, but it can be detected through a comprehensive dilated eye exam before noticeable vision loss occurs. Early detection and treatment can help save sight.
A comprehensive dilated eye exam is a procedure in which an eye care professional places drops in your eyes to dilate (or widen) the pupil to examine the back of your eyes and check the optic nerve for signs of disease. This exam may help save your sight because when glaucoma is detected early, it can be controlled through medications or surgery.
While anyone can get glaucoma, people at higher risk include African Americans age 40 and older, people over age 60, especially Mexican Americans, and those with a family history of glaucoma and diabetes. If you are at higher risk, make sure you get a comprehensive dilated eye exam every 1 to 2 years and encourage family members to do so as well.
Learn more at www.nei.nih.gov/glaucoma.
Schedule a dilated eye exam if you’re at higher risk. Make an appointment to see our glaucoma specialists today by phone at (312) 996-7030, or request an appointment online here.
January is Glaucoma Awareness Month. National Eye Institute. National Eye Health Education Program. www.nei.nih.gov/glaucoma
How Glaucoma Slowly Changes Vision
The images with corresponding field tests demonstrate that glaucomatous defects are not perceived as black clouds because they are concealed by the brain in patterns and colors of the surrounding area.
From Visual field defects are filled-in by the brain
European Glaucoma Society
Publishing date: January 2009
Contributor: Ann Hoste, Antwerp
Co-editors: John Thygesen and Ann Hoste
Peer reviewers: Roger Hitchings and Anders Heijl
