January is Glaucoma Awareness Month – brought to you by the North Texas Eye Research Institute
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can cause vision loss and blindness by damaging a nerve in the back of your eye called the optic nerve.
The disease is known as the “silent thief of sight” because the symptoms can start so slowly that you may not notice them, and it is a painless disease.
There’s no cure for glaucoma, but early treatment can often stop the damage and protect your vision. The only way to find out if you have glaucoma is to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam.
Anyone can get glaucoma, but some people are at higher risk. You’re at higher risk if you:
• Are over age 60, especially if you’re Hispanic/Latino
• Are African American and over age 40
• Have a family history of glaucoma
There’s no way to prevent glaucoma. That’s why eye exams are so important. We encourage you to schedule your eye exam soon!
For additional information, visit: https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/glaucoma
Para informacion en español, visite El glaucoma | National Eye Institute (nih.gov)