January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month and so we thought we’d share a little about what glaucoma is and how you can prevent it.

Glaucoma is a group of eye disorders that leads to damage of the optic nerve, typically involving high pressure in the eyes and loss of peripheral vision. Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the US and most people that have it don’t even know. Risk factors for glaucoma include: race, family history, thinner corneas, chronic eye inflammation, diabetes, eye injuries and use of medicines that increase pressure in the eyes.

The exact cause of glaucoma is unknown and there is no cure, but the best way to prevent glaucoma is routine comprehensive eye exams. Doing so will allow doctors to diagnose problems early that could contribute to the onset of glaucoma.

If you have questions about glaucoma, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to help.