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Regular Eye Exams Can Save Your Vision

Regular Eye Exams Can Save Your Vision

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that gradually steal sight without warning. Although the most common forms primarily affect the middle-aged and the elderly, glaucoma can affect people of all ages. Do you know if you have it?

You owe it to yourself to find out by getting a comprehensive dilated eye exam annually that includes having drops put in your eye. With its painless and gradual loss of vision, glaucoma may have no early warning signs, but it can be detected during a comprehensive dilated eye exam.

Glaucoma is called “the silent thief of sight” since there are no symptoms and once vision is lost, it’s permanent. As much as 40% of vision can be lost without a person noticing.

Vision loss is caused by damage to the optic nerve. This nerve acts like an electric cable with over a million wires. It is responsible for carrying images from the eye to the brain.

Glaucoma is the leading cause of preventable blindness. Over 2.2 million Americans, and over 60 million people worldwide, have glaucoma. Experts estimate that half of them don’t know they have it. Combined with our aging population, we can see an epidemic of blindness looming if we don’t raise awareness about the importance of regular eye exams to preserve vision.

Research has shown that treatment during the early stages of glaucoma can control the disease and prevent future vision loss and blindness. This is why ophthalmologists encourage people at higher risk for glaucoma to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam every year.

During a comprehensive dilated eye exam, an eye care professional can see inside the eye to detect signs of glaucoma, such as subtle changes to the optic nerve, before any symptoms appear. This allows the eye care professional to determine if you have glaucoma or are at risk for it, to monitor your condition, to treat glaucoma as early as possible, and to look for other vision problems. Once symptoms appear, it may be too late to prevent vision loss and the progression to blindness.

There is no cure for glaucoma – yet. However, medication or surgery can slow or prevent further vision loss. The appropriate treatment depends upon the type of glaucoma among other factors. Early detection is vital to stopping the progress of the disease.

There are two main types of glaucoma: primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), and angle-closure glaucoma. These are marked by an increase of intraocular pressure (IOP), or pressure inside the eye. When optic nerve damage has occurred despite a normal IOP, this is called normal tension glaucoma. Secondary glaucoma refers to any case in which another disease causes or contributes to increased eye pressure, resulting in optic nerve damage and vision loss.

If glaucoma is detected early, treatments such as eye drops or surgery can slow or stop vision loss. High pressure inside the eye, which may be associated with glaucoma, does not by itself mean that you have glaucoma. Only a comprehensive dilated eye exam and evaluation of the optic nerve by an eye can professional can tell you that.

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month. This year’s theme is “Speed the cure. Spread the word.” The best way to protect your sight from glaucoma is to get a comprehensive eye exam. Then, if you have glaucoma, treatment can begin immediately. It’s definitely worth it. A simple exam may be all that’s needed to prevent unnecessary vision loss.

Dr. Michael Habryl is an ophthalmologist with Alpine Eye Care and sees patients in their Cheboygan office. He is also a member of the Medical Staff at Cheboygan Memorial Hospital. You can contact his office at (231) 627-3169.

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Cheboygan
Memorial
Hospital
748 S. Main Street
Cheboygan, MI 49721
231-627-5601
800-866-9196