Each January, the team at Paragon Eye Associates recognizes National Glaucoma Awareness Month, a time dedicated to educating the public about glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible vision loss.
Glaucoma often develops silently, with no noticeable symptoms until significant vision loss has occurred. That’s why understanding your risk and getting regular eye exams are so important.
What Is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma isn’t just a single disease, it’s a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, which connects your eye to your brain. Most commonly, this damage is linked to elevated pressure inside the eye, though glaucoma can develop even when eye pressure is within normal ranges. Untreated, glaucoma can gradually steal vision, often starting with peripheral (side) vision.
In the United States alone, millions of people live with glaucoma, and many are unaware of their diagnosis because early stages typically don’t cause symptoms. Recent research suggests that there may be even more people with glaucoma than previously estimated, highlighting the need for regular screening and early detection.
Why Early Detection Matters
Because glaucoma often causes no pain or obvious vision changes in its early stages, comprehensive eye exams (including intraocular pressure checks and optic nerve imaging) are the only reliable way to detect it before damage becomes permanent.
Once vision is lost from glaucoma, it cannot be restored, but early detection allows for treatments that can slow or prevent further damage. These include medicated eye drops, laser therapy, or surgery—each tailored to a patient’s specific condition.
Who Is at Risk?
While anyone can develop glaucoma, certain groups are at higher risk, including:
- Adults over age 60
- Individuals with a family history of glaucoma
- People of African American, Hispanic/Latino, or Asian descent
- Individuals with diabetes or high blood pressure
- Those who have experienced eye injury or prior eye surgery
Some forms, such as open-angle glaucoma, progress very slowly and silently, making proactive care and routine exams critical.
What You Can Do This Awareness Month (and Beyond)
This January (and throughout the year), there are steps you can take to protect your sight:
1. Schedule a Comprehensive Eye Exam
A dilated eye exam allows your eye doctor to measure eye pressure, evaluate optic nerve health, and perform visual field testing—all essential for early glaucoma detection.
2. Know Your Family History
Existing research shows glaucoma can run in families, so sharing your family’s eye health history with your doctor helps guide screening frequency.
3. Be Consistent With Follow-Up Care
If you have glaucoma or are at elevated risk, regular monitoring (often annually or more frequently) is key to tracking changes and adjusting treatment as needed.
4. Follow Your Treatment Plan
For patients diagnosed with glaucoma, prescribed treatments like eye drops can significantly slow progression when used consistently.
Join the Movement: Early Detection Saves Vision
National Glaucoma Awareness Month is more than a calendar event. It’s a reminder that education, early detection, and proactive care can make a lifelong difference in preserving vision. Glaucoma may be common, but it doesn’t have to steal your sight.
At Paragon Eye Associates, our experienced team provides comprehensive eye exams and glaucoma screenings designed to detect the earliest signs of this “silent thief of sight.” If you live in the greater Arlington or Mansfield, TX areas, we’re here to help you protect your vision now and into the future.
Fill out the form below or call to schedule your eye exam:
- Arlington Office: (817) 277-6433
- Mansfield Office: (817) 477-0223
Don’t wait for symptoms; early detection starts with an eye exam. Let’s keep your vision clear in 2026 and beyond.
