Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide, but unfortunately, many people are unaware of this widespread disease – and miss the one vital step for eye health, an eye exam.<\/b><\/p>\n
The condition is characterized by permanent damage to the optic nerve, which can lead to severe vision loss over time, known as \u2018Tunnel Vision\u2019.<\/p>\n
But the unsettling thing about glaucoma is that it often has no symptoms in its early stages, and by the time vision loss becomes noticeable, the damage to the optic nerve is already significant.<\/p>\n
January is Glaucoma Awareness Month, so what better time than now to shed some light on how people can prevent this sight-threatening disease from harming their vision?<\/p>\n
Because glaucoma is often referred to as \u201cthe silent thief of sight,\u201d having regular eye exams with your optometrist is crucial for detecting glaucoma early.<\/b><\/p>\n
During an eye exam, your optometrist will perform a number of different tests to check for signs of glaucoma. These tests include measuring the pressure inside your eye (known as intraocular pressure), assessing your peripheral vision, and examining the health of your optic nerve.<\/p>\n
If your eye doctor detects any early signs of glaucoma, they will recommend a treatment plan that may include medication, laser therapy, or surgery.<\/p>\n
The earlier the treatment starts, the more effective it is likely to be, and the more vision you may be able to preserve.<\/p>\n
When was the last time you had a comprehensive eye exam?\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n
If you can’t remember, or if it’s been more than a year, it’s time to schedule an appointment.<\/p>\n
Don’t wait for symptoms to appear, as by then it might be too late.<\/p>\n
Regular eye exams are not only for people who have a family history of glaucoma, or for people who are over the age of 60. Anyone can develop glaucoma, and the only way to detect it early is through regular eye exams.<\/p>\n
The glaucoma eye exam is painless, and a non-invasive process, but it could make all the difference in preserving your vision.<\/p>\n
Don’t let glaucoma be the silent thief that steals your vision.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n
Protect your eyes and schedule an eye exam with your local optometrist today.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide, but unfortunately, many people are unaware of this widespread disease – and miss the one<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":20587,"parent":12328,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-article.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20815","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\n