The silent thief of sight, January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — It's a disease you won't know you have, until it's too late. Often known as the silent thief of sight, Glaucoma cases continue to rise across the country.  

January is Glaucoma Awareness month, and the Midwest Sight Foundation is encouraging the community to get their eyes examined. 

John C. Lee is a doctor who has been examining eyes in Decatur for years. "I came to Decatur in 1979. Numbers are decreasing in Macon County, yet worldwide, Glaucoma is still increasing in numbers."

Over 50% of the people living with Glaucoma, don't know they have it. There are still no symptoms before the genetic disease sneaks up. Factors that can play a role in deciding if someone could potentially have it include diabetes, high blood pressure, or anyone over the age of 50.

The disease starts behind the eyeball, where pressure is built up from fluid. This pushes on a nerve and chokes it, resulting in blindness. 

In order to prevent the disease, the Midwest Sight Foundation is encouraging eye checks. Using an eye pressure instrument, they can detect if someone will develop Glaucoma. 

Lee explains, if caught early, eye drops can help prevent the spread of more blindness. However, if caught too late, eye drops can't reverse damage already done. 

"Early detection and early treatment, prevents blindness."

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