Glaucoma Awareness Week s the seven-day stretch set aside to educate people about the effects, treatments, and preventive measures for this serious condition of the eye. In 2022 Glaucoma Awareness Week runs from March 6th through the thirteenth.
Sponsored by the World Glaucoma Association (WGA), Glaucoma Awareness Week is an international affair, with researchers, eye health organizations, and medical professionals from around the world taking part in educating people about the dangers, symptoms, and causes of glaucoma. The slogan for 2022 is “The World Is Bright, Save Your Sight” and the WGA hopes that the many scheduled activities that week encourage people to do just that.
What Is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is the number one cause of preventable blindness in the world. It is a chronic and progressive disease of the optic nerves. The disease causes pressure to build up within the eye which puts pressure on the nerves. Over time this pressure will damage the nerves leading to partial or complete loss of eyesight.
Left untreated it leads to permanent blindness. It is estimated that over 80 million people around the world suffer from glaucoma but the number may actually be significantly higher because the disease is asymptomatic until the vision is affected. By this stage, there isn’t anything that can be done to reverse the damage, only slow down the progression.
The only way to catch glaucoma early enough for treatment to be helpful is for people to get regular eye exams. It is hoped that the activities offered during Glaucoma Awareness Week will convince people of the importance of regular eye exams whether they believe there is a problem or not.
Treatments for Glaucoma
The treatments for glaucoma work by reducing the pressure in the eye. The exact treatment varies based on the severity of the disease but may include eye drops, like latanoprost, oral medications, like the beta-blockers clonidine or methazolamide, laser treatments, surgery, or any combination of those.
Eye Health Is Vital to Overall Wellness
Of course, glaucoma is not the only ailment that can affect a person’s eyes. Some, like chronic dry eye, can be treated easily. Others can be prevented entirely by wearing appropriate eyewear while in bright sun or using a lit screen. Still others, like glaucoma, cannot be prevented entirely, but catching these diseases early make help a person to delay or avoid going blind. Blindness is a difficult handicap for many people, especially in less developed countries, to adapt to. It increases the chances of living in poverty and may significantly lower life expectancy. It is vital to a person's overall health and wellness that their eyes are examined regularly.
Find Help Paying for Your Prescription Eye medications
After you have had your eyes examined, the doctor may find that you have glaucoma or some other treatable ailment of the eye. Your eye health is way too important for your future to allow the cost of these medications to keep you from using them. Thankfully, you can use RxLess to receive significant discounts on all of your prescription medications.
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