It has come to the knowledge that on each May of the year the National Eye Institute (NEI), one of the Federal Government’s National Institutes of Health (NIH) observes a Healthy Vision Month. It has been reported, that this year’s central focus shall be on the early detection of glaucoma and is meant for encouraging the Americans to make vision a health priority.

The thorough study cases have revealed that more than four million Americans have glaucoma, a grave eye disease that tend to damage the optic nerve and also destroys eyesight. Though it is a fact that nearly half of the people affected with glaucoma are not even aware of having it for its painless and gradual loss of vision and with showing no early warning signs. The researches also found a highly significant data that the groups who are staying at the higher risks on the development of glaucoma are the African Americans with an average of over 40, among the Mexican Americans with an average of over 60 and those people who have a hereditary process with this very disease.

Healthy Vision Month is an annual observance that has been designed to raise awareness of the importance of eye care meant for those who are at risk of developing eye and vision problems. On this year, the NEI has been found to encourage individuals towards getting an eye exam and also to spread the word about glaucoma to family and friends by using NEI’s e-cards and brochures.

While talking to the newsmen Dr. Paul A. Sieving, M.D., Ph.D. & Director of the NEI said, “NEI-funded research has shown that treatment during the early stages of glaucoma can control the disease and prevent future vision loss and blindness. This is why NEI encourages people at higher risk for glaucoma to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam every one to two years.”

In addition, Dr. Anne L. Coleman, Ph.D., Frances and Ray Stark Professor of Ophthalmology at UCLA’s Jules Stein Eye Institute and chair of the glaucoma subcommittee for NEI’s National Eye Health Education Program said, “A dilated eye examination is essential to protecting the vision of those at higher risk for glaucoma. If glaucoma is detected early, treatments such as medication, conventional surgery, or laser surgery can slow or stop vision loss. High pressure inside the eye, which may be associated with glaucoma, does not by itself mean that you have glaucoma. Only a dilated eye exam and evaluation of the optic nerve can tell you that.”