When I was a kid, a group of my friends and I sat around talking one day, discussing the question: If we had to give up one of our senses, which one would we give up? We had just learned about the five senses in school and, as children will do, we decided to push the envelope of reality.

Taste and smell seemed OK, until we thought about never enjoying a chocolate ice cream cone again. Hearing was quickly dismissed as an option because we all liked rock and roll way too much. Touch might have been a possibility, as we were too young to understand the cost of never feeling the touch of a baby’s hand or never feeling a child’s kiss on our cheek. But after considering all possible options, none of us was willing to even consider the loss of our sight.

Yet more than 120,000 people in the U.S. have lost their vision, accounting for 9 to 12 percent of all cases of blindness from a disease that less than half of its victims even know they have, and which is treatable and often preventable. This disease is the second most common reason for blindness in the world.

The disease is glaucoma, and it is a disease that damages the optic nerve due to a pressure build up in the front of the eye. It is a leading cause of blindness in people over 60 years old and can often be prevented by early treatment.

There are two types of glaucoma: open angle and closed angle. A simple way to remember the different types is by thinking of them as “slow” or “fast” occurring causes. The mechanism of a person losing the ability to drain fluid from the globe of the eye causes increased pressure, and that causes the optic nerve to be crushed. With this damage, vision is lost. Open angle (slow occurrence) causes a gradual blurring of vision, but often there are no other symptoms early on in the process. Rapid occurring or closed angle glaucoma, causes headaches, sudden blurry vision, nausea and, often, the perception of colored halos or rings around lights. 

Some risk factors for developing glaucoma include being over 40 years of age; having a family history of glaucoma; having had a previous eye injury; and having diabetes, migraines or any kind of circulation problem. African Americans and Latinos are at greater risk than the average white American.

The clue to detecting early disease, which is necessary to prevent the irreversible blindness that can occur, is regular eye exams. During these exams, the eye specialist can easily determine optic pressures, inspect the eye’s drainage angle and test for signs of early vision impairment, especially peripheral (side) vision loss. It is recommended for everyone over 40 years old to make an appointment for an eye exam every one to two years with an optometrist or an ophthalmologist who can do a non- invasive evaluation of eye pressures.

Treatment for glaucoma can involve medication or surgery. Early glaucoma is generally controlled by regular use of eye drops. These drops can help increase the outflow of fluid or decrease the production of fluid within the eye. Often there are two different drops that are used, and dosing is regulated by monitoring eye pressure at regular follow ups.

Another treatment option can involve the use of lasers to improve drainage of the fluid. This is performed either in an ophthalmologist’s office or in an outpatient surgical center. It is almost always a same day procedure. Newer surgical treatments include creating a new drainage channel within the eye.

No one chooses to be blind, but failing to care about your eye health and failing to follow simple steps to detect early vision changes can result in an unwanted and permanent life altering condition, one that is very avoidable.

— David Stein, D.O., is an associate clinical professor of family practice at the Biddeford-based University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine.