I have glaucoma. It came out of nowhere and hit me right between the eyes…sort of. One of my sisters had glaucoma, but I’d never had a hint of excess pressure. I procrastinated six months regarding my annual eye exam, and at the end of the exam, I was stunned to learn I had glaucoma, and it could change my life.
In the meantime, I had two surgeries to remove cataracts and implant new lenses. It’s possible that the glaucoma brought on the need for the surgeries, but who knows? I do know that having lens implants was miraculous and I can see much better. But that’s a side issue.
So what do I do? Try to stay as healthy as possible and take eye drops as directed to keep the pressure on the optic nerves as low as possible.
Having a superb eye doctor like Curtis Akerman helps. He knows his stuff and fields my questions with grace.
Here’s a link to the World Glaucoma Day site. It also provides information on glaucoma.
And here’s an excerpt from one of their print documents:
Because glaucoma is a progressive disease causing irreversible visual loss, usually without warning until relatively advanced, and because 50% of affected people in the developed world, and 90% in developing countries, do not know they have it, and are not on treatment, we believe community awareness needs to be increased. This includes awareness of the disease, and of the need to have regular eye checks, thereby permitting earlier detection and avoidance of what should be preventable visual disability.
So you don’t have glaucoma. Wonderful! What’s the best way to make sure you stay that way? Make sure you have regular eye checkups and that you are always tested for glaucoma. Have a good World Glaucoma Day!
Please direct any questions concerning your personal health to a licensed eye doctor or other appropriate health care professional.