Glaucoma is called “the sneak thief of sight” since there are no symptoms and once vision is lost, it’s permanent, according to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, which reports that as much as 40 percent of vision can be lost without a person noticing. Glaucoma is the leading cause of preventable blindness. Among African American and Latino populations, glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness, and it is more prevalent. Glaucoma is six to eight times more common in African Americans than Caucasians. Over 2.2 million Americans, and over 60 million people worldwide, have glaucoma. Experts estimate that half of them don’t know they have it. Combined with our aging population, GRF warns, we can see an epidemic of blindness looming if we don’t raise awareness about the importance of regular eye examinations to preserve vision.
Download a Glaucoma 17-Point Checklist and a Glaucoma Eye Q Test from Prevent Blindness America to spread the word to your patients.
