January is “National Glaucoma Awareness Month”

Are you at risk for a leading cause of blindness

By Cheryl L. Dejewski

Glaucoma is known as the “Sneak Thief of Sight” because the most common type is painless and progresses so slowly that most people don't notice symptoms for years— until severe permanent damage has already occurred. Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness, especially for blacks. In fact, black Americans have a 6-8 times higher risk rate, and at least one in five age 75 and older has the disease. How can you protect yourself? The partners at Eye Care Specialists, an ophthalmology practice that has focused on caring for Milwaukee’s black community since 1985, advise that you schedule regular eye exams to check for glaucoma, strictly follow eye drop and laser treatment recommendations, and learn the following facts. How glaucoma affects vision

“The front of your eye is filled with a fluid that supplies nutrients and maintains the eye's shape. If the proper amount does not continually pump in and drain out, pressure builds up. Glaucoma is a condition in which pressure inside the eye damages the optic nerve (the part of the eye that carries visual information to the brain). If this pressure persists without being diagnosed and treated, it can cause permanent loss of side vision and eventually possibly all sight,” explained Brett Rhode, MD, Head of Ophthalmology at Aurora Sinai Medical Center and senior partner at Eye Care Specialists, a leading local ophthalmology practice that cares for tens of thousands of glaucoma patients.

Risk factors

Daniel Ferguson, MD, an eye surgeon who performs advanced laser and surgical procedures to alleviate glau-