More than four million people in the United States have glaucoma, a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve and destroy eyesight, according to the National Eye Institute. Unfortunately, nearly half of those with glaucoma are not even aware that they have it.
You owe it to customers/patients to encourage them to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam. Paul A. Sieving, M.D., Ph.D., director of the National Eye Institute (NEI), one of the National Institutes of Health, said, "NEI-funded research has shown that treatment during the early stages of glaucoma can control the disease and prevent future vision loss and blindness. This is why NEI encourages people at higher risk for glaucoma to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam every one to two years."
Anyone can develop glaucoma, but those at higher risk for developing the disease include:
- African Americans over age 40
- Everyone over age 60, especially Mexican Americans
- People with a family history of the disease
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