Glaucoma Awareness Month

Millions of people living in the United States suffer from glaucoma; a disease that leads to vision loss through increased eye pressure and damage to the optic nerve. With January being Glaucoma Awareness month, we want to highlight the disease and share simple things you can do to be proactive in recognizing and treating it.

While it’s commonly thought that glaucoma only impacts older adults, it can actually be detected at any age and it’s important to start getting checked for it, especially after you turn 30. Diabetics, African Americans, and those with a family history of glaucoma are at an increased risk. It’s crucial to watch for common symptoms of the disease such as patchy blind spots in your peripheral vision, eye pain and blurred vision, but it’s also extremely important to take action to diagnose glaucoma before symptoms start. Following tips like these can help improve your overall eye health:

Get Routine Eye Exams: Regular checkups with your eye doctor can help detect any changes in your eye, like glaucoma, and catch it in the early stages so treatment can begin.
Exercise Regularly: Not only is it good to have a consistent exercise regiment for your overall health, but in some instances, moderate exercise may help reduce eye pressure.
Eat for Your Eyes: Including a healthy amount of fresh fruits, leafy green vegetables and fish or nuts rich in omega-3 PFA in your diet can help improve your total eye health.
Wear Eye Protection: Ensuring you are wearing proper eye protection when doing any activity that could damage your eyes can help you avoid injuries that could aid in leading to glaucoma.

With 2016 upon us, make a resolution for healthy vision! Schedule your annual eye exam today to maintain your eye health in the new year!