Each January we begin the New Year with a strong emphasis on patient
education and awareness on glaucoma prevention. This along with a number of
improvements in diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma has had a meaningful impact
on reducing blindness from glaucoma. A recent study from Mayo Clinic suggests that there is
good news for those with glaucoma or at risk of getting glaucoma in that all of
these efforts and the advances in diagnosis and treatment have lowered the risk
of blindness from glaucoma by nearly half.
About Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a condition
where the eye does not drain fluid properly, resulting in high pressure in the
eye that can damage the optic nerve. In the United States, 2.7 million people
age 40 and older have the condition. If left untreated, glaucoma reduces
peripheral vision and eventually may cause blindness. According to the Mayo
Clinic study, the likelihood of losing sight in one eye was 28 percent for
patients diagnosed with glaucoma between 1965 and1980. That number fell to 13.5
percent for patients diagnosed between 1981 and 2000.
Patients have an important
role in scheduling regular eye exams with glaucoma testing as this is the best
way to detect glaucoma early and initiate treatment as quickly as possible. At
Doctor & Associates we use in office
high technology diagnostic imaging called Optical Coherence Technology (OCT) as
well as high resolution digital photography for diagnostic purposes along with
in laser treatments for glaucoma-all of which has contributed to our ability to
prevent vision loss and blindness from glaucoma.
If you or someone you know is concerned about glaucoma, has
any risk factors for glaucoma or needs to schedule a glaucoma eye exam, please
feel free to call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in
Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an
appointment.
Doctor & Associates offices
are located at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195
Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk,
Connecticut 06851.
