Early detection can combat silent sight thief glaucoma

By Michele Hester

There are more than 65 million suspected cases of glaucoma across the globe with more than 3 million adult cases reported in United States alone. Many more Americans have the disease but do not even know it.

Glaucoma, the second leading cause of blindness in the U.S., has often been referred to as “a silent sight thief” because it slowly takes away vision usually without the patient realizing their sight is deteriorating.

“Glaucoma is a silent disease you are not going to feel,” said Dr. Joyce Nations, owner and optometrists at Dawson Eye Group. “By the time you realize you’re having problems, it’s usually too late.”

Nations explains, “Glaucoma deals with peripheral vision. As time goes by, patients lose more and more of their peripheral vision. Once the peripheral vision is damaged, you can’t get it back.”

To raise awareness of the disease, Prevent Blindness America (PBA), a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving sight, joined other leading eye care groups and designated January as National Glaucoma Awareness Month.

The groups emphasize annual vision. Although anyone can be at risk for glaucoma, the highest risk factors focus on age. “The number of cases has been up in the past few years,” said Nations. She believes the increase in cases is due baby boomers coming of high risk age. “Those 60 and older are at the highest risk,” said Nations, who can conduct exams for glaucoma during the yearly vision checkups.

While age factors high, race is another important factor in developing glaucoma. “African Americans over the age of 40 are also at risk,” Nations said.

According to the National Eye Institute, glaucoma is five times more likely to occur in African Americans than in Caucasians. African Americans are also four times more likely to go blind from the disease. Hispanics are more likely to develop glaucoma after age 60 than any other group.

Originally published Feb. 1, 2006 by Dawson Community News, Dawsonville, Ga.