January is Glaucoma Awareness Month

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January 5, 2010

Special report The Glasgow Daily Times Tue Jan 05, 2010, 11:21 AM CST

GLASGOW — Approximately 3 million Americans age 40 and over have glaucoma. Half are unaware of their disease.

Dr. George Rooney, optometrist at Downing-McPeak Vision Centers said that the disease has very few warning signs.

“Most people who have glaucoma don’t notice symptoms until they begin to lose some vision. But vision loss from glaucoma can be prevented if it’s caught and treated in time,” said Dr. Rooney. “As part of Glaucoma Awareness Month in January, we urge you to get an eye exam if you’re at risk for developing glaucoma.”

Glaucoma is sometimes associated with elevated pressure within the eye, but even those with normal or low pressure can lose vision as a result of glaucoma. Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve, which is responsible for transmitting visual information from the eye to the brain. At first, there may be a loss of peripheral vision, followed by reductions in central vision and potentially, blindness.

Dr. Rooney said that there are several groups of people who are at a higher risk for glaucoma.

“African-Americans have a higher incidence of glaucoma and it often appears at a younger age than in other racial groups. Anyone with a close relative suffering from glaucoma is also at risk. Older people, those with diabetes and people who’ve had a serious eye injury are also considered at risk,” said Dr. Rooney. “Because the disease has few warning signs, high-risk individuals should talk with an eye doctor about maintaining regular eye exams.”

Although glaucoma cannot be cured, early detection and treatment can usually preserve vision. To schedule a comprehensive eye exam at Downing-McPeak Vision Centers to see if your eyes are healthy, call the Glasgow office at (800) 422-4348, the Bowling Green office at (800) 362-2086, or the Franklin office at (270) 586-3937 to schedule an appointment or log on to www.Downing-McPeak.com for more information.

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