Glaucoma Awareness Month in Phoenix Arizona
January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month
We’re you aware that January is National Glaucoma Month?
We would like to share some valuable insight on this sight stealing disease. Glaucoma is typically labeled “the sneak thief of sight” because as much as 40% of vision can be lost before you even notice something is wrong. Glaucoma is the leading cause of preventable blindness and unfortunately there are no symptoms or signs and once vision is lost, it’s permanent.
Here are some interesting stats regarding Glaucoma you might not be aware of:
- Glaucoma is the 2nd leading cause of blindness in the world, and the leading cause of preventable blindness according to the World Health Organization.
- There are over 60 million suspected cases of Glaucoma worldwide.
- Among the African American population Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness.
- Of 2.2 million Americans that have Glaucoma, only half of these individuals know they have it.
- Glaucoma accounts for around 12% of all blindness, approximately 120,000 individuals in the U.S.
There is a lot of ongoing research on methods of early detection of Glaucoma. Some examples of these methods and effects are listed below.
Detection of psychophysical and structural injury in eyes with glaucomatous optic neuropathy and normal standard automated perimetry.
Bagga H, Feuer WJ, Greenfield DS.
Arch Ophthalmol. 2006 Feb; 124(2):169-76.
PMID:16476885
[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Clinical variables associated with glaucomatous injury in eyes with large optic disc cupping.
Greenfield DS, Bagga H.
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging. 2005 Sep-Oct;36(5):401-9.
PMID:16238039
[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Macular symmetry testing for glaucoma detection.
Bagga H, Greenfield DS, Knighton RW.
J Glaucoma. 2005 Oct;14(5):358-63.
PMID:16148583
[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Bagga H, Greenfield DS, Feuer WJ.
Am J Ophthalmol. 2005 Mar;139(3):437-46.
PMID:15767051
[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Source of articles: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=harmohina%20bagga
At Horizon Eye Specialists, we are pleased to have Harmohina Bagga M.D., Glaucoma and Cataract Specialist, on our staff for the diagnosis and treatment of Glaucoma. We encourage every patient to visit us routinely for a yearly exam to rule out eye conditions such as Glaucoma.