January is Glaucoma Awareness Month

January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month and Prevent Blindness America seeks to educate the public on what they can do to maintain their eye and vision health.

Glaucoma, a disease that causes a gradual degeneration of cells that make up the optic nerve, is the second leading cause of blindness in the world and the leading cause of blindness in African American and Hispanic populations in the United States. There are nearly 2.3 million Americans over the age of 40 suffering from glaucoma, and glaucoma costs the U.S. economy $2.86 billion every year in direct medical costs for outpatient, inpatient and prescription drug services.

Besides age, other risk factors include sex and race. Glaucoma is more common in women, but by age 65, the prevalence of glaucoma becomes more comparable between the sexes. Hispanic, Caucasian and African American populations are more susceptible to open angle glaucoma while acute angle-closure is more common in certain Asian populations and Americans of Asian descent, according to the Glaucoma Research Foundation.

More information about glaucoma can be found at:
http://www.preventblindness.org/glaucoma/

To view a full copy of the January press release, go to: http://www.preventblindness.org/news/releases/011410_2.html