January marks Glaucoma Awareness Month, a crucial time to focus on eye health. Why the urgency? Glaucoma, often called the silent thief of sight, is a leading cause of irreversible blindness in the United States, yet as many as half of the people who have it don’t know they are affected.
What Is Glaucoma, and Why Does It Matter?
Glaucoma is not just one disease. It is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, the cable that sends visual information from your eye to your brain.
Early Signs and Symptoms You Should Never Ignore
Although glaucoma often develops without clear symptoms, there are warning signs that deserve urgent attention.
Subtle Changes That May Suggest Glaucoma:
- Slowly worsening peripheral (side) vision
- Trouble seeing in dim light
- Mildly blurred or patchy vision in one or both eyes
- Frequent prescription changes that don’t fully fix your vision
Because these changes are so gradual, many people miss or dismiss them. Regular eye exams are the only reliable way to catch glaucoma early.
Who Is at a Higher Risk for Glaucoma?
Anyone can develop glaucoma. Still, some people have a significantly higher risk. Knowing where you stand helps you decide how often to get checked.
Major Glaucoma Risk Factors
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Eye Institute, and the Glaucoma Research Foundation, the following factors raise your risk:
- Age 60 or older (risk increases with age)
- Family history of glaucoma, especially in a parent or sibling
- Elevated eye pressure (ocular hypertension)
- Diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease
- Thin corneas or certain eye structural features
- A history of eye injury, long-term steroid use, or certain eye conditions
Race and ethnicity:
African American adults are more likely to develop glaucoma, and we often develop it at a younger age
Hispanic and Latino adults, particularly those over age 60, have an elevated risk. People of Asian descent are at higher risk for angle-closure glaucoma and some normal-tension forms
Studies also show that glaucoma is more likely to cause blindness in Black and Latinx populations due to biological and systemic factors, including disparities in access to eye care.
If you fall into any of these groups, Glaucoma Awareness Month is an ideal time to talk with an eye doctor.
Resources: Detecting Glaucoma with a Dilated Eye Exam; Animation: Dilated Eye Exam
Sources: Glaucoma Research Foundation, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health