Ascension Wisconsin optometrist answers questions on glaucoma and early detection

According to the CDC, glaucoma is one of the leading causes of vision loss and irreversible blindness in the United States. It is important to know the signs of glaucoma and how you can detect it early. 

Megan Thistle, OD, Optometry at Ascension Medical Group Wisconsin, shares three important facts about glaucoma, including how scheduling your annual eye exam can help with early detection. 

1. What is glaucoma? 

Glaucoma is a progressive eye disease that can slowly steal your peripheral vision and can cause irreversible blindness if left untreated. Unlike other eye diseases, there are often no symptoms in the early stages of glaucoma and many people are unaware they have it until they begin experiencing vision loss.

2. What are the risk factors for glaucoma? 

Glaucoma can affect anyone, but your risk for glaucoma increases with age. People over the age of 60 are at higher risk. Other risk factors include:

• A strong family history of glaucoma
• Elevated pressure within the eye
• Race: African American and Latinx communities are at a higher risk

3. What preventative measures can I take to prevent getting a glaucoma diagnosis? 

There is no way to prevent glaucoma, but getting an annual eye exam to monitor eye health, including eye pressure, will help you catch and treat it early. At every annual eye exam, your optometrist will take your eye pressure and evaluate your eyes for signs of glaucoma. 

Annual eye exams ensure the health of your eyes from front to back. Some eye diseases, such as glaucoma, do not cause symptoms until later in the disease and we want to diagnose and treat eye conditions as soon as possible. We all only have one set of eyes, and we should take care of them.

Talk to a doctor who listens 

Understanding your eye health is important to help prevent vision problems. And, when your vision changes, we’re here to help. At Ascension Wisconsin, our eye specialists, ophthalmologists and optometrists deliver customized care for eye health in adults and children. Our doctors and care teams evaluate your vision, diagnose eye disease, treat eye illness and injuries and provide vision care. 

Find an Ascension optometrist near you and schedule your annual eye exam today.