By Dr. Sandra Johnson, Ophthalmologist and Glaucoma Specialist
MCG Eye Care Center 

Known as the “silent thief” of sight, glaucoma often has no symptoms until permanent eye damage or blindness has occurred. The good news is that regular checkups with your ophthalmologist can detect glaucoma early and prevent vision loss.

No eye exams are as comprehensive as those given by an ophthalmologist. Eye doctors check for eye and other diseases that have no early symptoms, but need to be treated as early as possible to avoid vision loss.

More than 3 million Americans have glaucoma, but only half of them know it. If you are at risk for this eye disease, a complete eye exam is recommended every two years. Risk factors include:

• Eye (Intraocular) pressure. The higher the fluid pressure in your eye, the more likely you are to develop glaucoma. A special test measures pressure levels in the eye.
• Age. The risk of glaucoma increases as you become older, with those 40 and older at highest risk.
• Race. African-Americans are four to five times more likely to develop glaucoma than Caucasians, and they may develop it at a younger age. Asians and Hispanics are also at higher risk.
• Family History. Those with close relatives (a parent or sibling) with the disease are at higher risk.
• Eye Problems. Those with thin corneas or extreme nearsightedness, or who have experienced eye injury or eye surgery, are at greater risk for glaucoma.
• Steroids. Extended use of steroid medication can result in glaucoma.
• Other diseases. Those with high blood pressure and/or diabetes are at greater risk.
   
  There is no cure for glaucoma, and any damage that occurs is not reversible. By having eye checkups regularly, the vision loss caused by glaucoma can be stopped through medications, lasers or surgery. So if you haven’t visited your ophthalmologist in the past two years and are at risk for glaucoma, schedule an appointment today.

MCG Health is composed of three organizations - MCG Health, Inc. and the clinical services offered by the faculty of the Medical College of Georgia and the members of the MCG Physicians Practice Group.  MCG Health, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation operating the MCG Medical Center, MCG Children’s Medical Center, the MCG Sports Medicine Center, MCG Ambulatory Care Center, the Georgia Radiation Therapy Center, and related clinical facilities and services.  MCG Health, Inc. was formed to support the research and education mission of the Medical College of Georgia, and to build the economic growth of the CSRA, the state of Georgia and the Southeast by providing an environment for delivering the highest level of primary and specialty health care.  For more information, please visit www.MCGHealth.org.