January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month, an important time to spread the word about this sight-stealing disease. According to the Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF), more than 3 million people in the United States have glaucoma. The National Eye Institute projects this number will reach 4.2 million by 2030, a 58% increase.
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that causes optic nerve damage. As a result, one can experience vision loss and blindness. There are different types of Glaucoma that includes:
- Open-Angle Glaucoma
- Vision loss begins on the side of eye or peripheral
- Vision sharpness remains stable until late in disease
- Treatable
- Congenital Glaucoma
- Occurs in babies and young children
- A rare condition that can be genetic or by incorrect development of the eye’s drainage system
- Signs include unusually large eyes and excessive tearing
- Symptoms include enlarged eyes, cloudiness of the cornea and photosensitivity to light
- Normal-Tension Glaucoma
- Damage to the optic nerve without a known cause
- Those at risk include family genetics people of Japanese descent and those with a history of systemic heart disease
Glaucoma & Employment
With the proper treatment, technology and understanding of the disease, one may be productive in the workplace. It is important to understand your needs and to advocate for what you may need.
Receiving accommodations is one step to ensuring proper success. Accommodations are specific to one’s individual vision impairment but can include:
- Proper lighting and color contrast
- Computers with special software for accessibility such as enlarged font and dictation
There are many resources on glaucoma that are available for those in need. Should you require assistance in finding a specific resource, please do not hesitate to contact us.
