Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide and affects around three million Americans. It can cause damage to your eye’s optic nerve and can lead to permanent vision loss. While there’s still no cure for this condition, early detection and treatment can help slow its progression and prevent vision loss.
A neurolens treatment specialist shares essential things you should know about glaucoma.
Certain Groups of People Are at Higher Risk
All people can get glaucoma but there are groups of individuals who are at higher risk. People over 60, individuals with a family history of glaucoma, diabetes patients, and African Americans over 40 are more likely to develop glaucoma. People with diabetes have twice the risk of getting glaucoma. Glaucoma is also six to eight times more likely to occur in African Americans than whites.
Routine Eye Exams Helps With Early Detection and Treatment
Seeing your eye doctor regularly can help with the early detection and treatment of glaucoma. Your eye care specialist may prescribe eye drops to keep the condition from progressing. If you are at a higher risk of developing glaucoma, you may need to schedule eye exams more frequently. Whether you need an eye exam or dry eye treatment, Lumen Optometric is here to help.
A Healthy Lifestyle Can Help You Avoid Vision Loss
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and eating a nourishing diet can help you avoid glaucoma-related vision loss. It will also help to control your blood pressure, maintain a healthy weight, and quit smoking if you do. These good habits are also great for preventing type 2 diabetes and other health conditions that can harm your eyes and vision.
Looking for a scleral optometrist? At Lumen Optometric, we’re here to help address your eye care concerns. We offer eyeglasses, scleral lenses, neurolens therapy, and more. Give us a call at (626) 921-0199 or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.