Preserving Sight this Glaucoma Awareness Month
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Can sight truly vanish without warning? For those with glaucoma, the unsettling answer might be yes.1 This progressive, and potentially sight-stealing disease affects millions of people across the globe with growing prevalence.2 In observance of Glaucoma Awareness Month, Alcon is unpacking key insights and recommended steps to protect and preserve vision, so people worldwide can continue to See Brilliantly.
Typically symptomless, the group of eye diseases known as glaucoma gradually damages the eye’s optic nerve, which is responsible for transferring visual signals from the eye to the brain.3 The condition is caused by improper drainage of the eye’s natural fluid, leading to elevated eye pressure, or intraocular pressure (IOP).3 If left untreated, glaucoma can lead to vision loss and even blindness.3
Glaucoma’s Growing Threat: Understanding the Risk Factors
Further augmenting the dangers of this silent, and sight threatening disease, many are unaware that they may be at a greater risk for developing glaucoma.
Those most at risk include individuals over the age of 60 and those of Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino descent.3 In fact, in the United States the group with the largest incidence of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), the most common form of the condition, is expected to shift to Hispanic men over the next few decades.4
As the world’s population rapidly ages, with more people than ever aged 60+,5 the number of individuals diagnosed with glaucoma is expected to increase from 68.6 million globally to 111.8 million by 2040.2 With the number of potentially at-risk individuals on the rise,2,5 it’s essential to understand the mounting threat glaucoma poses.
However, when considering those impacted, “diagnosed” is the operative word.
Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness across the world.1 It is estimated over 3 million Americans have glaucoma, yet only half of those affected know they have it.1
Detect Early Signs of Glaucoma with Regular, Comprehensive Eye Exams
Overwhelmed with busy lives, many patients may delay seeing a doctor until they notice an unusual symptom, or an emergency arises. However, not every disease has warning signs; and, in the case of a virtually symptomless eye disease, like glaucoma, many remain unaware they have it until the disease has progressed to irreversible vision loss.1
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, there were roughly 43 million global cases of undetected POAG in 2020 — and this number is projected to increase to 67 million by 2040.6
Due to the incurable and degenerative nature of glaucoma, expedient intervention is critical to preserving sight. Scheduling an annual comprehensive eye exam is a simple and effective way to detect glaucoma.7 Doing so, and exploring available treatment options, are two necessary steps forward in the effort to safeguard one’s sight.
Knowing Your Options: Why Asking Your Eye Care Professional (ECP) About New Innovations in Glaucoma Treatment is Paramount
In life, and in disease management, knowledge is power. By understanding what treatment options are available and asking an ECP about the latest innovations, at-risk patients can take charge of their eye health and improve their care experience.
Because there is no cure for glaucoma, managing the disease requires long-term patient commitment. Over the lifetime of their disease, patients may be treated with eye drops, laser therapy, or surgery—all of which work to lower IOP, reducing potential damage to the optic nerve.3 Improvements in all of these types of therapy are regularly introduced, including:
- Prescription eye drops that are designed to lower IOP. There are also efforts to provide programs to make eye drop dosing easier to remember, supporting therapeutic compliance.
- Surgical procedures that reduce pressure in the eye.
- Non-pharmaceutical laser therapy treatments designed to reduce the eye pressure.
New technology has the capacity to transform the landscape of patient care. That’s why Alcon prioritizes innovation in glaucoma research and development to address patients’ evolving needs throughout the different stages of glaucoma.
This Glaucoma Awareness Month, Alcon is encouraging people worldwide to:
- Stay informed about potential risks for developing glaucoma,
- Prioritize annual eye exams,
- Learn about the available treatment options, and
- Seek out new innovations from an ECP.
For more information on glaucoma and glaucoma treatment options from Alcon, please visit https://www.alcon.com/innovation/ for Alcon’s latest innovations.
References:
- Glaucoma Facts and Stats | glaucoma.org. (2022, February 28). Retrieved February 17, 2023, from glaucoma.org website: http://glaucoma.org/glaucoma-facts-and-stats/#:~:text=Glaucoma%20is%20the%20second%20leading%20cause%20of%20blindness
- Allison K, Patel D, Alabi O. Epidemiology of Glaucoma: The Past, Present, and Predictions for the Future. Cureus. 2020 Nov 24;12(11):e11686. doi: 10.7759/cureus.11686. PMID: 33391921; PMCID: PMC7769798.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). At a Glance: Glaucoma. National Eye Institute. https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/glaucoma
- Eye disease statistics. American Academy of Ophthalmology. (2014, April 4). https://www.aao.org/education/clinical-statement/eye-disease-statistics-2
- World Health Organization. (2024, October 1). Ageing and health. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health
- Karmel, M. (2021, June 30). Global burden of undetected glaucoma. American Academy of Ophthalmology. https://www.aao.org/eyenet/article/global-burden-of-undetected-glaucoma
- Williams, R. (2024, February 12). The importance of regular eye exams to detect glaucoma. Glaucoma Research Foundation. https://glaucoma.org/articles/the-importance-of-regular-eye-exams-to-detect-glaucoma
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