Glaucoma Stats You Need to Know
In a survey conducted by the Glaucoma Research Foundation, it was determined that 74 percent of people have regular eye exams, but only 61 percent of those people get dilated eye exams. Since these eye exams are the best way to detect glaucoma, it’s obvious that many people aren’t concerned about this eye condition. Once you learn some important statistics, you will be much more likely to take a proactive approach to detecting glaucoma. That approach can save your vision.
4 Million Americans Have Glaucoma
It’s believed that as many as four million people have glaucoma, but only half of them have been
diagnosed. The other half don’t realize they have it, and it might be too late for them to avoid severe vision loss by the time they discover they have a problem. You can get control of the situation by getting dilated eye exams and talking to your Shelton, Connecticut, eye doctor about your concerns. Let your eye doctor run tests to make sure that you do not have glaucoma. Then, if you do, your eye doctor can treat the issue so it doesn’t progress.
It’s Responsible for 9-12% of All Cases of Blindness in the U.S.
When glaucoma goes untreated, it can lead to blindness. In fact, approximately 120,000 people in the United States are blind due to glaucoma. That makes up as much as 12 percent of all cases of blindness in the country. This isn’t just a problem for Americans. The World Health Organization stated that it is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide.
In many cases, the blindness could have been avoided with early detection. Get regular eye exams so your eye doctor can detect the issue early.
It Costs the U.S. $2.86 Billion Each Year
Glaucoma is a costly disease. The U.S. economy loses $2.86 billion each year due to it. This is due to both direct costs and the cost of lost productivity. Early detection is the key in limiting these costs. You are less likely to lose productivity if your eye doctor is able to stop the progression of the disease before it interferes with your vision. Also, you will pay a lot less for treatment if you catch the disease early. It costs patients an average of $623 a year to treat early-stage glaucoma. If you have end-stage glaucoma, you can expect to spend an average of $2,511 a year. That is a huge difference.
Glaucoma Is on the Rise
The number of people in the United States living with glaucoma is expected to more than double by 2050. This increase means that regular eye exams are more important than ever before. It is becoming more and more likely that you or someone you love is living with glaucoma.
There might not be a treatment for glaucoma, but early detection can prevent the disease from progressing. Contact your Shelton, Connecticut, eye doctor for a thorough eye exam. Keep your regularly scheduled appointments so you won’t have to worry about losing your vision to glaucoma.
