#  Don't Let Glaucoma Rob Your Patients of Vision 

 



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###  **Nearly half of Americans who currently have glaucoma are unaware of their condition. Why?** 

- Most types of glaucoma are painless, with no feelings of discomfort.
- Glaucoma typically affects peripheral vision first, so many people remain unaware of the disease until their central vision is affected.
- Glaucoma is often associated with aging, and patients often perceive subtle vision changes as a result of normal aging.
- For many people, professional eye care can be difficult to obtain or too expensive.

###  **Educate your patients about glaucoma risk factors and the importance of regular comprehensive eye examinations.** 

 **Risk factors:**

- Over age 60
- Family history of glaucoma
- Diabetes
- People of black African, black Caribbean, Latin American, and Asian descent
- History of eye injuries
- History of multiple eye surgeries for chronic eye conditions
- High myopia or hyperopia
- Chronic steroid use

 **Guidelines for routine monitoring:**

- If no risk factors are present, start regular comprehensive eye exams or screenings BY age 40, repeat every 3-5 years.
- If any risk factors are present, start regular comprehensive eye exams or screenings BEFORE age 40, repeat every 3-5 years. After age 65, repeat every 2 years.
- If of black African descent, black Caribbean descent, Latino, or Asian, start regular comprehensive eye exams or screenings in your 20s or 30s, repeat every 3-5 years.