Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States. There are several myths surrounding the disease that are keeping people from seeking treatment from an expert eye doctor. Allow us to debunk three glaucoma-related myths:
Myth: Glaucoma is an Age-Related Disease
While your glaucoma risk increases with age, it does not only affect the elderly. Glaucoma can affect people of all ages, from babies to grandparents. Different types of glaucoma include:
- Primary Open Angle Glaucoma
- Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma
- Secondary Glaucoma
- Developmental Glaucoma
Myth: No Symptoms? No Problem.
Glaucoma is referred to as a silent thief, as it often affects people without producing any symptoms in its early stages. Frustratingly, the further the disease progresses without the aid from an eye doctor, the more damaging it is in the long run!
Glaucoma is often diagnosed via routine eye exams or glaucoma evaluation when your doctor appraises your eye’s optic nerve. Your doctor can notice a change in appearance in the optic nerve before it ever produces symptoms. (Schedule a glaucoma evaluation today.)
Myth: Glaucoma is Only Genetic
Certain types of glaucoma are genetic, but there are others that can affect a person even without a family history of the disease. If you have glaucoma, encourage your family to get evaluated. Even if you don’t know anyone with glaucoma, it’s important to have yearly eye doctor visits.
How Vision Eye Group Can Help
It’s true that glaucoma is not curable, but it can be controlled! Your Vision Eye Group doctor can prevent further vision loss and help you manage your glaucoma, so it does not negatively affect your lifestyle. Certain glaucoma symptoms that can make your life difficult include:
- Blurry vision
- Headache
- Nausea
- Seeing halos around lights
- Severe eye pain