January is Glaucoma Awareness Month

Glaucoma damages the eye's optic nerve and can lead to blindness if not treated. Often there are no symptoms in the early stages and by the time patients show up at the doctor they have already suffered vision loss. That's too bad since early treatment or surgery can control the disease.“Studies show that at least half of all persons with glaucoma don’t know they have this potentially blinding eye disease,” said National Eye Institute (NEI) director Dr. Paul Sieving. “The good news is that glaucoma can be detected in its early stages through a comprehensive dilated eye exam.”January is Glaucoma Awareness Month. The National Eye Institute (part of the NIH) offers comprehensive resources for the public, clinicians and health educators.photo credit: ORBIS UK via photopin cc----By David E. Williams of the Health Business Group.