Reasons to See Your Ophthalmologist for a Glaucoma Screening

  • Posted on: Mar 15 2021
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You may have heard of various eye diseases, such as glaucoma and cataracts but, in your mind, you thought you had time to take care of your eyes so these conditions wouldn’t occur. If you aren’t seeing your ophthalmologist regularly, you could be in for an unpleasant surprise. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of vision loss. Because it is treatable, we hate to see people face unnecessary turmoil related to this disease. Here, we discuss some of the reasons you should schedule your glaucoma screening right away.

Glaucoma is known as the “silent thief of sight.”

This nickname for glaucoma tells you all you need to know. If you and your eye doctor are not on top of your current eye health from year to year, you face the risk of gradually losing your eyesight. When a person has glaucoma, there is too much pressure inside the eye. This pressure compresses the optic nerve, causing damage. Irreparable damage. This is why we don’t want to wait for symptoms to be obvious to check for glaucoma. Often, it is a routine ophthalmic exam that detects this condition. Sometimes, by the time it has been detected, a person has lost some of their peripheral or side vision.

Glaucoma risk increases with age.

Adults face increased risks for glaucoma and other eye conditions as they get older. The Glaucoma Research Foundation encourages people to schedule exams accordingly. Their recommended guidelines for ophthalmic exams are:

  • Before age 40: Every 2 to 4 years
  • Age 40 to age 54: Every 1 to 3 years
  • Age 55 to 64: Every 1 to 2 years
  • After age 65: Every 6 to 12 months

Proper care can preserve vision.

Glaucoma is not a sentence for vision loss. Proper medical management has helped millions of patients preserve their eyesight. It must be understood that early detection and treatment are necessary to prevent vision loss. Disruption to peripheral vision cannot be corrected because it is caused by damage to the optic nerve. What your eye doctor can do is prescribe an appropriate care plan to slow or halt further vision loss.

At Silverstein Eye Center in Chester, NJ, your eye health is our priority. Call 908.879.7297 to schedule your glaucoma screening today.

Posted in: Glaucoma

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