It’s National Glaucoma Awareness Month and as your consultant pharmacist we wanted to take this opportunity to remind you about scheduling your regular comprehensive eye exam.
Glaucoma is a condition that damages your eye’s optic nerve. If left untreated, it could lead to loss of vision or total blindness. According to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, it is estimated that over three million Americans have glaucoma, but only half of those know they have it. People at higher risk for developing glaucoma include those who:
- are over age 40
- have family members with glaucoma
- are of African, Hispanic, or Asian heritage
- have high eye pressure
- are farsighted or nearsighted
- have had an eye injury
- use long-term steroid medications
- have corneas that are thin in the center
- have thinning of the optic nerve
- have diabetes, migraines, high blood pressure, poor blood circulation or other health problems affecting the whole body
What should you do next?
- Learn about your family history of glaucoma, along with any other risk factors you may have;
- Request a comprehensive eye exam (including a glaucoma screening) from your eye doctor; and
- Decrease your risks by managing the modifiable risk factors, such as keeping your blood pressure under control.
To learn more about glaucoma visit Glaucoma.org and if you have any questions or concerns contact us for additional guidance.
The Consultant Pharmacists at OctariusRx provide guidance on safe medication management, survey readiness and cost savings to ambulatory healthcare facilities/surgery centers, senior care facilities and pharmacies We also help individual patients optimize their medications to improve their quality of life and save money. Contact us for assistance.
