01/22/2026
January is Glaucoma Awareness Month. Did you know that Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in individuals over the age of 60 the United States? It has no noticeable symptoms in the early stages, and vision loss is so gradual that many people do not even realize they’re losing their vision until sight is compromised.
What is Glaucoma? In a healthy eye, fluid (aqueous humor) is constantly made, and it must drain away at the same rate at which it is made. Otherwise, there's trouble. When the aqueous humor no longer drains correctly, this causes the pressure in our eyes (called Intraocular Pressure, or IOP) to rise. It is important for our IOP to maintain at a normal level. If left untreated, Glaucoma damages the optic nerve, causing permanent vision loss and eventually leads to blindness.
How is Glaucoma diagnosed and treated? Routine vision exams are the key to your Optometrist or Ophthalmologist seeing signs of/ Glaucoma and diagnosing early. An excellent tool in diagnosing is the Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) scan, which is painless, non-invasive, and over within seconds. It is recommended for all ages, as many diseases (including Glaucoma) can be diagnosed at any age.
Unfortunately, Glaucoma cannot be stopped. But its progression can be slowed and controlled. Treatment can vary, but it often consists of eye drops, although surgery may be necessary. It is crucial to not only attend your yearly routine vision exams, but to also follow-up as recommended by your eye doctor for any eye disease, including Glaucoma.
If you would like to learn more about Glaucoma, you can read this article from the American Academy of Ophthalmology:
Worried about glaucoma? Learn what this “silent thief of sight” really means, how to spot early signs, and the latest treatments to protect your vision.
