National Glaucoma Awareness Month

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world and the leading cause of blindness among African-Americans. Sutter Regional Medical Foundation (SRMF) recognizes National Glaucoma Awareness Month in January as a time to educate the community about glaucoma and the importance of early detection.

Donna Seabrooks, M.D., an ophthalmologist who provides eye care services at SRMF, reminds the community that glaucoma is the number one cause of preventable blindness, and with an aging population, it’s more important than ever to be aware of risk factors that can lead to blindness.

"Everyone is vulnerable to this silent disease, but typically less than half of people affected with glaucoma even know they have it until vision loss starts to occur," says Dr. Seabrooks. "Early detection is key to preserving the gift of sight. This is especially true for people with diabetes."

According to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, a person with diabetes is nearly twice as likely to get glaucoma as other adults. And Seabrooks emphasizes that the longer you have had diabetes, the greater your risk of getting glaucoma. Glaucoma can be treated with medications, laser or other forms of surgery.

"The biggest issue surrounding eye care in my practice is awareness of the connection between diabetes and glaucoma, and between glaucoma and blindness," notes Dr. Seabrooks. "Regular checkups and understanding the risk factors for glaucoma are the most important issues we need to tackle."

At highest risk of glaucoma, according to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, are African Americans (where the disease strikes earlier and progresses more aggressively), Hispanics/Latinos, Asians, anyone over the age of 60 and anyone with a family history of glaucoma.

According to Dr. Seabrooks, vision changes are often early indicators of diabetic retinopathy, or nerve damage. So people who have that symptom should make an appointment with an eye care professional.

"When I see patients who are complaining about frequent changes in their vision, I’ll investigate to see if they have diabetes and refer them to a primary care physician to control their condition," says Dr. Seabrooks.

Managing blood sugar levels is one way to slow or stop the progress of eye disease in people with diabetes. Controlling blood pressure, eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise are other ways to keep eyes healthy, in addition to regular checkups. The Glaucoma Research Foundation recommends that your eyes be tested at: