January is not only the beginning of a brand-new year, but it is also National Glaucoma Awareness month. Amid the annual process of making new year’s resolutions, consider adding, “schedule a visit to the eye doctor,” to your list.
Don’t Let Glaucoma Sneak Up on You!
You could already have glaucoma and not even know it. This is because the symptoms of glaucoma can start so slowly that you may not notice them. According to the National Eye Institute (NEI):
- Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can cause vision loss and blindness by damaging a nerve in the back of your eye called the optic nerve.
- The only way to find out if you have glaucoma is to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam.
- There is no cure for glaucoma, but early treatment can often stop the damage and protect your vision.
- Without treatment, glaucoma can eventually cause blindness.
Who Is at Risk for Glaucoma?
Anyone can get glaucoma but if you are over age 60 (especially Hispanic or Latino), are African American and over age 40, or have a family history of glaucoma, your risks of getting glaucoma are higher.
What Can You Do Starting Now?
- Start off your new year with a visit to the eye doctor. In the US, eye doctors can test for glaucoma with a simple and painless dilated eye examination.
- Should you find out you do have glaucoma, you should start treatment right away. Treatment won’t undo the damage to your vision, but it can help stop the damage from getting any worse. Treatments can include laser treatment, medication, and surgery.
- Obtaining vision insurance will help put vision care higher up on your list of priorities. Having vision insurance can help offset some of the costs when it comes to eye care and eye care products.
If you are an employer, consider adding affordable vision insurance to your employee benefits program.
Our AmeriLife Benefits team takes vision care seriously which is why we provide affordable vision insurance that will help your employees take care of their eyes. Click this link to get more information on our vision insurance plus additional health insurance benefits that can make a difference for your employees and their families.
