Each January as part of the
recognition of Glaucoma Awareness Month,
the ophthalmologists and staff at The Eye Care & Surgery Center remind
patients to schedule eye exams with glaucoma testing as necessary. We have
worked with patients to help reduce their risk of glaucoma and vision loss from
glaucoma through regular eye exams. Now, we can report that there is good news for those with glaucoma or at risk of getting
glaucoma. New advances in diagnosis and treatment are thought to lower the
chance of vision loss, and in fact the risk of blindness from
glaucoma has dropped by nearly half according to researchers from Mayo Clinic.
Glaucoma is a condition
where the eye does not drain fluid properly, resulting in high pressure in the
eye that can damage the optic nerve. In the United States, 2.7 million people
age 40 and older have the condition. If left untreated, glaucoma reduces
peripheral vision and eventually may cause blindness. According to the Mayo
Clinic study, the likelihood of losing sight in one eye was 28 percent for
patients diagnosed with glaucoma between 1965 and1980. That number fell to 13.5
percent for patients diagnosed between 1981 and 2000.
Regular eye exams are the best
way to detect glaucoma early and initiate treatment as quickly as possible. At
The Eye Care & Surgery Center, as necessary, we routinely use our in office
high technology diagnostic imaging called Optical Coherence Technology (OCT) as
well as high resolution digital photography for diagnostic purposes along with
glaucoma laser treatments to enhance our ability to prevent vision loss and
blindness from glaucoma. Patients still have a key role to play here, as even
with these advances, some 13-15 percent of those diagnosed with glaucoma still do
go blind. We can’t over emphasize the importance of getting regular eye exams
to detect glaucoma in the early stages so that we can prescribe vision preserving
treatment as soon as possible.
If you or someone you know is concerned about glaucoma, has
any risk factors for glaucoma or needs to schedule a glaucoma eye exam, please
feel free to call The Eye Care & Surgery
Center at 908-789-8999, visit The
Eye Care & Surgery Center
or facebook.com/eyecareandsurgerycenter to schedule an appointment. The EyeCare & Surgery Center is located at 592 Springfield Avenue,
Westfield, New Jersey 07090, 10 Mountain Boulevard, Warren, New Jersey 07059
and 517 Route One South, Suite 1100, Iselin, New Jersey 08830, and is conveniently located for patients from throughout
central and northern New Jersey.
