Eye, the main organ of sight, a self-adjusting camera that feeds signals to the brain where the picture is built, thus creating the visual experience. Imagine the color palettes of a sunset by the crystal clear waters of the beach, a stunning lake painted by its glacial waters, and the breathtaking canyons kissed by the morning light. What a sight!
However, there exists a thief that could steal those visual experiences: Glaucoma. More than 3 million people in United States have it and 80 million people worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 4.55 million people are blind due to Glaucoma.
According to the National Eye Institute (NEI), it is a group of eye diseases that can cause vision loss and blindness by damaging a nerve in the back of our eye called the optic nerve. They may start slowly so we may not notice them right away. There are no known cures, but early treatment can often stop the damage and protect our vision.
Symptoms involve slowly losing our peripheral vision, halos or colored rings around lights, severe eye pain, and gradual blurring of vision. Anyone at any age can get glaucoma, but some people are at higher risk.
Those who are at higher risk include:
Those over age 60 especially Hispanic/Latino.
African American and over age 40.
Have a family history of glaucoma.
Recognizing the early symptoms of heart failure can lead to quicker treatment and better outcomes. Common warning signs include:
This January, may we take a moment to remember loved ones or members of our community who have glaucoma. What life lessons have they picked up from this journey? What assistance can we provide them? Our own personal maturity largely depends on what we learn and what we give.
As we “look” forward to what 2025 has in store for us, may we show appreciation for our gift of sight. Think about the things we look forward to: our planned trips for the year, perhaps a new career paths we plan to take, or the moments with loved ones we intend to spend. It will be very difficult to even imagine enjoying it without the visual experience.
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