LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Glaucoma: Diseases
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Glaucoma is the second most common cause of legal blindness in the United States. It affects an estimated 2.5 million persons in the United States, 130,000 of whom will be blind as a result. Due to the rapidly aging population, the number with glaucoma is expected to increase by 50 percent to 3.36 million in 2020. Half of those with glaucoma may not be aware that they have the disease. Early detection and treatment are crucial, given that vision loss is irreversible once it has occurred.
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Glaucoma is the leading cause of preventable blindness. With an aging population, millions worldwide risk blindness from glaucoma if nothing is done. "Everyone is vulnerable to this silent thief of sight, but typically less than half are aware of the threat. Early detection and treatment is the only way to prevent further vision loss," says Thomas M. Brunner, GRF president and CEO. At highest risk are African Americans (where the disease strikes earlier and progresses more aggressively), Hispanics/Latinos, Asians, anyone over the age of 60, and everyone with a family history of glaucoma.
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Glaucoma affects 2 million Americans, and half of those people are unaware they have the disease. Approximately 5 to 10 million Americans have elevated eye pressure, which places them at risk for the development of glaucoma. Eighty thousand Americans are already blind from the disease. African-Americans have a five-fold greater risk of developing glaucoma and, in this population, it is the single most common cause of irreversible blindness.
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Unfortunately, up to half of those afflicted with glaucoma are unaware that they have the disease because Glaucoma develops without warning. Too often, treatment isn't sought until a degree of vision has deteriorated. At that point, steps may be taken to control the progression of the disease ... the vision that is noticeably impaired is lost forever.
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Glaucoma can't be cured, and damage caused by the disease can't be reversed. But with treatment, glaucoma can be controlled. Eyedrops, oral medications and surgical procedures can prevent or slow further damage.
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Glaucoma can be treated but the damage done by the disease can not be reversed or undone. Further damage to the eye by glaucoma can be stopped. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that the glaucoma be diagnosed and treated early before significant damage has been done.
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