Glaucoma, the Silent Thief of Sight

It can come with no warning and no noticeable symptoms. It is the second most common cause of blindness in the United States. "IT" is Glaucoma, the Silent Thief of Sight.

January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month and we encourage all people, especially those at higher risk for this disease, to familiarize themselves with the potential symptoms and need for regular eye examinations. A regular eye examination is especially critical since a person with early-stage Glaucoma may not notice any symptoms at all. While the early stage symptoms may not be noticeable, persons with more advanced Glaucoma may notice blurred vision, the presence of halos around lights, loss of peripheral vision and difficulty focusing on objects.

Glaucoma affects an estimated 4 million Americans.   Some people are more at risk than others. Those at higher risk include:

• People over the age of 60
• African-Americans over age 40
• People with diabetes
• Individuals that have experienced a serious eye injury
• Anyone with a family history of glaucoma

Nathan Bonilla-Warford, OD
Bright Eyes Family Vision Care
Located in the Westchase area of Tampa.