"Eyesight is one of the most valuable gifts we have," "By being educated on eye health and by having routine eye exams, we can ensure that the gift will last for a lifetime.
" Dr.
Rob Shrader Baby Boomers everywhere: Glaucoma is the sneak thief of sight...
Glaucoma, silently causes vision loss by damaging the optic nerve, the main cable from the eye to the brain that gives people their sight.
It is the leading cause of preventable blindness, is an eye disease that The level of vision lost to glaucoma among Americans is about to get much worse.
Glaucoma affects 67 million people, but that number is projected to hit 80 million by 2020, says Harry Quigley.
"The disease increases with age," Quigley says.
"It's not that the disease is getting worse, it's that people are living longer and are more likely to develop the disease.
" Baby boomers, he says, will help drive the increase.
Several Studies have shown thatage, family history and racial background are the risk factors to be considered.
Blindness is third-biggest fear, behind heart disease and cancer.
It takes an hour out of your life to get your eyes checked every two years.
There is a need for a greater dialogue to understand glaucoma.
Dilated eye tests and visual field tests detect glaucoma and should be a part of routine eye screenings every three years.
People will get their teeth cleaned every six months but only get their eyes checked every 10 years.
The earlier the diagnosis, the better possible outcome.
Elevated eye pressure is the primary risk factor for glaucoma, but the disease is much more complicated.
Several groups are at higher risk for glaucoma, including the elderly, people with a family history of the disease and members of ethnic minorities.
The disease can occur in people with normal pressure, too.
Once a family member is diagnosed, The immediate family sould get tested so if glaucoma is detected, treatment can begin.
"Eyesight is one of the most valuable gifts we have,and by being educated on eye health and by having routine eye exams, we can ensure that that gift will last for a lifetime.