Learning more about the silent thief of sight (KNWA)
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA) — January is Glaucoma Awareness Month and doctors say it’s important to know the sight stealing disease can affect anybody.
Over three million Americans are living with glaucoma, but about half of them don’t even know they have it
“The only way to really reliably diagnose glaucoma is to get a thorough, complete eye exam,” said Dr. George Tanaka, glaucoma specialist at Vold Vision in Fayetteville. “So the tragedy is people come in and they’re noticing some problems with their vision and it’s already almost too late to save them.”
Dr. Tanaka said African Americans, Hispanics, older patients, and people who have a family history of the disease are most at risk. While peripheral vision is usually first to go, it’s only a matter of time before vision loss or even blindless kicks in.
