without any warning signs.
It mainly affects the optic nerve, which sends images from the eye to the brain. If it isn’t found and treated early, glaucoma can lead to permanent blindness.
A new study from Sweden has brought more attention to how common and sneaky this disease is, especially among older people. The research is part of the long-running H70 project, which has studied the health of older adults for 50 years. This part of the study looked at the eye health of 560 people who were 70 years old.
The results were surprising. About 5% of the people in the study were found to have glaucoma. Even more shocking was that half of them didn’t even know they had it. They were only diagnosed during the study. This shows that many people may be living with glaucoma without realizing it.
Lena Havstam Johansson, the lead researcher, stressed how important it is to catch glaucoma early. Treatments like daily eye drops can lower the pressure inside the eye and slow down the damage. But these treatments work best when the disease is found in its early stages.
One reason glaucoma is hard to detect is that it starts slowly and without pain. Often, one eye loses vision first, but the other eye takes over and hides the problem. So, people may not notice any changes until the damage is serious.
The study also found that some people with glaucoma had normal eye pressure. This is important because eye pressure is usually one of the first things doctors check when looking for signs of glaucoma. But this research shows that normal pressure does not always mean healthy eyes.
Another key point from the study is that glaucoma can run in families. If someone has a close family member with glaucoma, their chances of getting it are higher.
Interestingly, the people who had glaucoma in this study did not report feeling more unhappy or less active than others their age.
They didn’t smoke or drink more either. But they did say they had more trouble doing everyday tasks, like climbing stairs, seeing in low light, or noticing things off to the side. These difficulties could make them more likely to stay at home.
This study is a strong reminder of how important regular eye checkups are, especially for people over 70 or those with a family history of eye problems. Many cases of glaucoma can be treated easily if found early. That’s why it’s so important to get your eyes checked, even if you don’t notice any problems.
The good news is that being diagnosed with glaucoma doesn’t mean your life will change completely. With the right treatment, many people keep their vision and continue enjoying life.
The research, published in the journal Acta Ophthalmologica, shows how important it is to be aware of glaucoma and take action early. It reminds us not to take our eyesight for granted. By having regular eye exams, we can protect our vision and stay independent for longer.
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