January is Glaucoma Awareness Month
Let us be among the first to wish you a very Happy New Year! At Ighani Eye Care, we’re excited about 2023, and we hope you are, too. In the coming year, we hope to faithfully serve the eye care needs of even more people in the coming year.
January offers an opportunity to turn the page on a new year, and maybe even establish some new habits and goals. At Ighani Eye Care, we have one goal year after year – making sure you have all the information and care you need to make sure your eyes are healthy for a lifetime. And since January is also Glaucoma Awareness Month, it’s a great time to share some education about this sight-stealing condition.
The Silent Thief of Sight
The Glaucoma Research Foundation estimates that over 3 million Americans have glaucoma today, and about half of those with glaucoma don’t even know they have it! Wow. That’s a lot of people walking around with an eye condition that, if left untreated, can slowly diminish their vision.
The most common type of glaucoma (primary open-angle) very often doesn’t exhibit any noticeable symptoms. Glaucoma, often called the silent thief of sight, can, and likely will, rob you of your vision over time if left undiagnosed and untreated.
The National Eye Institute projects the number of Americans who live with glaucoma will reach 4.2 million by 2030 – a 58 percent increase! It is more important than ever before for Americans to know about glaucoma. Let’s learn more.
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an eye condition where the passages that normally allow fluid inside your eye to drain become blocked, increasing pressure on your optic nerve. This increased pressure can damage nerve fibers and blood vessels, resulting in vision loss. The exact cause of glaucoma is unknown.
Remember, the damage to your sight from glaucoma is irreversible. For this reason, all annual comprehensive eye exams at Ighani Eye Care include a glaucoma screening. If glaucoma is detected, our experienced doctor (Dr. I) will perform a more in-depth glaucoma evaluation.
How is Glaucoma Treated?
Treatment can vary, but the goal of any glaucoma treatment is to lower eye pressure, preserve your current level of vision and prevent further damage. Treatment depends on the type of glaucoma diagnosed, the degree to which the condition has progressed, underlying risk factors and other variables.
Generally, prescription medications (eye drops and oral medications), laser procedures and surgery are all utilized in an attempt to preserve vision.
SLT (Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty) is a form of laser surgery that is used to lower intraocular pressure in open-angle glaucoma. It is used when eye drop medications are not lowering the eye pressure enough or are causing unwanted side effects. It may sometimes be used as an initial treatment in glaucoma.
MIGS (Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery) is designed to lower eye pressure safely with rapid recovery and minimal restrictions. Instead of creating an artificial drain in the eye, they unclog the eye’s natural drainage system, enhancing drainage.
MIGS offers several advantages over traditional surgery. They are minimally invasive, nonpenetrating procedures that do not create a permanent opening in the wall of the eye. Additionally, they can be performed as stand-alone procedures or at the same time as cataract surgery with similar recovery, postoperative drop regimen and restrictions of activity as cataract surgery alone.
Am I at Risk of Developing Glaucoma?
Anyone can develop glaucoma at any time; even children, although that is rare. At Ighani Eye Care, we put great emphasis on early detection. Every person over the age of 55 should have a comprehensive eye exam once a year, where Dr. I will screen for glaucoma.
But there are a few risk factors you need to be aware of:
- Age 55 or older
- A history of glaucoma in your family
- Black, Asian or Hispanic heritage
- Medical conditions, such as diabetes, migraines, high blood pressure and sickle cell anemia
- Extreme nearsightedness or farsightedness
- Thin corneas
- Injury to the eye
- Certain types of eye surgery
- Corticosteroid use, especially eye drops, for a long period of time
Trust Your Eyes to the Experts for Glaucoma Awareness Month
If you believe you or someone you love may be at risk of developing glaucoma, your best first step is to schedule a comprehensive eye exam. With New Year’s resolutions in mind, January is the ideal time to prioritize all those regular health-related appointments and screenings for the year. And at Ighani Eye Care, we want to be your first choice in eye care for the whole family. Our tagline is “I care. You’ll see”.
“More than a tagline, it’s a promise. A commitment made to each patient we are honored to serve. From eye exams and eye disease management to LASIK and modern cataract surgery, we want to be your trusted eye care provider in every season of life.”
Dr. I
Start the new year off right, and schedule your appointment today.
