Glaucoma has been dubbed the "silent thief of sight," but according to HealthDay, experts say that early treatment can prevent blindness. The site quotes Dr. Mark Fromer, an ophthalmologist at Lenox Hill Hospital and medical director of the Fromer Eye Centers in New York City as saying "For most people, if you treat early, you should have vision for a lifetime."
Glaucoma causes damage to the optic nerve. The disease can progress undetected for a long time, which is why regular checkups are so important. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that people older than 40 have a baseline eye exam and that after 65, testing should be done every one or two years. Treatment usually begins with eye drops and may also include medication. Beyond that, regular exercise has been shown to reduce pressure in the eye – one more reason to get moving!
