Courtesy of the American Academy of Ophthalmology
NEW YORK—January is Glaucoma Awareness Month, which means the associations and organizations within the optical industry are once again encouraging people to get comprehensive eye exams and get checked for the disease. According to the Prevent Blindness report, “Future of Vision: Forecasting the Prevalence and Costs of Vision Problems,”  glaucoma, one of the most common eye diseases, currently affects nearly three million people ages 40 and older. Numbers are estimated to increase by nearly 50 percent to 4.3 million by 2032 and by more than 90 percent to 5.5 million by 2050.

Because there is no cure for glaucoma yet, the American Academy of Ophthalmology wants to remind patients that certain lifestyle habits may minimize the risk of losing vision, beyond drugs and surgery. Exercising regularly, eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, drinking coffee in moderation and getting screened regularly for glaucoma are just some behaviors that can make a difference.

“Some patients say that they feel powerless against a disease like glaucoma,” said Davinder Grover, MD, a clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. “By offering information about lifestyle factors, we hope to help empower them to live their lives in a way that will have the greatest positive impact on this disease, and improve their quality of life immediately.”

In addition to encouraging people to take preventative measures, the National Eye Institute is also reminding those who have been diagnosed to continue monitoring their eye health. Being consistent with glaucoma medicine and asking ECPs questions that help to understand every aspect of the condition are ways to protect your vision from glaucoma.