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Hopscotch Primary Care Spotlights Glaucoma for National Glaucoma Awareness Month in January

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Published:  January 23, 2025
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They say the eyes are the windows to the soul. Whether or not you put stock in this poetic standing, it’s easy to see your eyes have an important job in daily life.

Your eyes help you navigate safely around your home. They’re how you watch your grandkids light up when they see you. They help you know when a traffic light changes from green to red.

Because they play such a significant role, eye problems can quickly send shockwaves throughout your life.

Glaucoma is an eye condition that can lead to irreversible visual damage. It may cause blindness in some cases, if left untreated.

In 2022, estimates show more than four million Americans are living with glaucoma. Glaucoma affects just over 2.5% of adults aged 40 years and older in this country.

But what is glaucoma? Who is at risk and what can be done to prevent it? Does it always lead to blindness?

Hopscotch Primary Care is unpacking these questions and more in our latest article.

We’re continuing to highlight National Health Observances in 2025 by choosing topics that may impact seniors. .  Our comprehensive primary care services are designed to support patients in managing conditions such as glaucoma.

January 2025 is National Glaucoma Awareness Month. Since glaucoma affects seniors at a higher rate, we wanted to unpack all you need to know about this eye condition.

What is glaucoma?

Let’s dig in by dispelling a common misconception about glaucoma: it’s not one disease, but many.

Glaucoma is an eye condition that damages the optic nerve. This occurs when there is a buildup of fluid in the front of your eye. If left untreated it can lead to vision loss and potentially blindness.

Glaucoma types are separated into two broad categories, depending on the underlying cause.

  • If your doctor can’t determine that a condition is the cause for your glaucoma it’s known as primary glaucoma.
  • Glaucoma can result from other medical conditions, like diabetes or high blood pressure. It can also be a side effect of certain medications, treatments, and surgeries. When another condition causes p glaucoma, it’s known as secondary glaucoma.

This article from the National Eye Institute has a helpful round-up of glaucoma types and their causes for you to learn more.

For this article, we’ll focus on a type of primary glaucoma known as open-angle glaucoma.

This type of glaucoma is by far the most prevalent in the United States, accounting for more than two million cases.  Of patients with glaucoma, approximately 90% of this type.

Glaucoma is progressive. In its earliest stages, symptoms may be mild, which can impact its early diagnosis.

Noticeable glaucoma symptoms tend to show up in the moderate stage as the condition progresses. Signs often include:

  • Visual field changes, including blurriness in peripheral vision
  • Patchy blind spots on the sides of your vision

Glaucoma typically starts by causing visual changes at the sides of the eyes but progresses to affect central vision, too.

Open-angle glaucoma doesn’t usually cause pain. Other types can cause nausea, headache, eye pain, and sudden visual changes.

Next, let’s examine some of the reasons glaucoma occurs, and who’s at risk.

What causes glaucoma?

Glaucoma involves damage to the optic nerve. This important nerve (one of your 12 cranial nerves) is responsible for sending visual signals to your brain. It takes in what you see and passes it along to your brain so it can be processed and understood.

In many cases, glaucoma involves pressure in the eye that impinges on the optic nerve. This pressure is usually the result of increased fluid in the eyes.

Think about it like a kink in a garden hose: this affects the hose’s ability to deliver a steady stream of water to your garden. Your optic nerve needs to provide a steady stream of visual information to your brain. When something cuts off the stream, it can’t work right.

But here’s an important caveat: glaucoma can also occur in eyes with normal pressure.

In about 30-40% of glaucoma cases, eye pressure is within normal limits.

Known as normal tension glaucoma, or NTG, this form of glaucoma is thought to arise from blood flow issues or structural weaknesses in the optic nerve. This can cause nerve damage, even without higher-than-normal pressures.

Some groups are at higher risk for open-angle glaucoma than others. These include:

  • African Americans over the age of 40
  • Those of Hispanic and Latino descent over the age of 60
  • Those with a family history of glaucoma
  • Those with diabetes
  • Those with hypertension (high blood pressure)
  • Those who are nearsighted
  • Those with sickle cell anemia

Women and people who are farsighted have a higher risk of developing angle-closure glaucoma.

Now that you understand the risk factors for glaucoma, let’s review how it can be prevented and treated.

Can glaucoma be prevented and treated?

Glaucoma can be challenging to diagnose because determining its presence requires a lengthy examination.

Another difficulty in diagnosing glaucoma early is its first symptoms tend to start slowly. They often fly under the radar until the condition progresses.

That’s why regular eye exams are vital for your visual health.

An eye exam performed by a qualified eye doctor can help diagnose glaucoma and other eye conditions in their early stages when more can be done to prevent or slow their progression and impact on your health and vision.

At Hopscotch Primary Care, we’re big on preventative healthcare. Seniors who stay on top of their preventative care and screenings are more likely to be healthier and identify issues sooner to slow progression.

Your wellness visits with us are a key component of your all-around care. We’ll ensure you stay current on your preventative healthcare needs, and we’ll offer you the information and resources you need to decide which screenings and treatment approaches are right for you.  If you do not have an eye doctor, we are here to help connect you with one in your area.

The first step is to talk with your provider to learn your risks for developing glaucoma. They can help you understand your risks and determine how often you should get checked. Those at highest risk may need a comprehensive dilated eye exam every one to two years.

During your regular eye exam, your eye doctor will measure the pressure in your eyes, to help assess your risks for developing glaucoma.

If you develop glaucoma, your doctor will likely recommend one of three types of treatment: medicine, surgery, or laser treatment.

  • Laser treatments for glaucoma are designed to lower the pressure in your eyes by draining excess fluid. This procedure is typically performed in-office by your eye doctor.
  • Glaucoma medicine usually involves prescription eye drops that can help lower elevated pressure in your eyes.
  • Surgery for glaucoma is often considered if medicine and laser treatment aren’t effective. Your eye doctor can surgically reduce the pressure in your eyes by draining excess fluid.

There are also steps you can take to decrease your risk of glaucoma. These include:

  • Knowing your family’s health history and self-advocating if you’re concerned about glaucoma
  • Getting your regular eye exams
  • Wearing eye protection when you’re doing sports or running power tools, as eye injuries can also lead to glaucoma and other visual issues

Following your provider’s recommendations is another great way to stay ahead of glaucoma and its symptoms.

  • This may include taking your eye drops as prescribed, even if you don’t have any
  • It can also include staying current on your regular health and wellness screenings as you age. If you have chronic health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, effectively managing these conditions can help decrease your risk of glaucoma.

Hopscotch Primary Care is a leader in diabetes care and management for seniors. We’ll help you effectively manage your diabetes, so you can enjoy a healthy and active life.

We can also help you understand and control your high blood pressure. This is a common concern among older adults, and Hopscotch will help you manage your blood pressure to reduce your risks for related health issues like heart attacks, strokes, and glaucoma.

Our preventative care and health management solutions are designed for seniors. We offer comprehensive, customized primary care that’s made to work for your life and needs. Our team-based approach to care means you’ll receive support, both in and out of our clinics.

From assisting you with managing your medications and tracking your blood pressure to supporting you with any chronic conditions and aligning you with specialists through our expansive network of care—Hopscotch is here for your all-around health and well-being.

 

Locate and contact your neighborhood Hopscotch clinic with ease, get started with us and become a patient online, and check out our blog regularly for free health information and helpful resources for seniors.