NEI Tauts Galucoma Awareness Month

Glaucoma is a major cause of vision loss in the United States, affecting about 2.2 million Americans. The National Eye Institute (NEI) leads research toward better prevention, detection, and treatment of this often silent but devastating disease. During Glaucoma Awareness Month, NEI highlights research advances, showcases education and awareness efforts, and reminds Americans that early detection and treatment is the best way to prevent vision loss. NEI advises all Americans at risk of glaucoma to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam every one to two years. Read more.

Free Eye Exams for those 65+

You may remind your elderly patients that they can receive free exams, as noted in a HealthNewsDigest post. "In honor of Glaucoma Awareness Month taking place in January 2011, EyeCare America, a public service program of the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, provides eye exams at no out-of-pocket cost to people age 65 and older and offers free educational materials. The eye exams are provided by a corps of nearly 7,000 volunteer ophthalmologists across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Those interested in the program can visit www.eyecareamerica.org to see if they are eligible. The organization’s online referral center also enables friends and family members to find out instantly if their loved ones are eligible to be matched with an EyeCare America volunteer ophthalmologist."

January Is National Glaucoma Month--Tell Your Customers/Patients

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