Get examined during Glaucoma Awareness Month

Jan 5 2011

It happens slowly. Over time, a person's vision will get worse. Until one day, that person can no longer see. Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the United States and worldwide. Unfortunately, there is no cure.  Once a person's vision is lost, it cannot be regained. That is why Dr. Bizer's VisionWorld is encouraging people to get an examination during Glaucoma Awareness Month.

"We cannot reverse the effects of this serious disease, but we can help prevent it," said Dr. Mark Lynn, an optometrist who owns and oversees 15 Dr. Bizer's VisionWorld locations across Kentucky and Indiana. "People suffering from glaucoma will slowly lose their vision, and over time, they will go blind. But just a quick trip to the eye doctor can preserve a person's vision for years to come."

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve which carries images from the eye to the brain.  Glaucoma is prevalent among middle-aged Americans and the elderly, though it can affect people of all ages, even infants.

"Approximately half of all Americans living with glaucoma do not know they have the disease until it is too late," Lynn said. "That means about 2 million people are slowly going blind without knowing it."

Those at high-risk of developing glaucoma are: African-Americans, Hispanics, people over the age of 60 and immediate family members of those suffering from the disease. People who are at high-risk should undergo annual, comprehensive eye exams during which a doctor carefully evaluates the optic nerve and measures eye pressure.

Although glaucoma cannot be cured, it can be treated. To help prevent further vision loss, glaucoma can be treated with eye drops, pills, surgery or a laser procedure.