Jan. 22, 2025

This paid piece is sponsored by Vance Thompson Vision.

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month, a time to shed light on the risks, diagnosis and innovative treatment options for glaucoma — a silent but potentially blinding eye disease. Vance Thompson Vision is proud to join the effort to increase awareness about this condition, which affects more than 3 million Americans.

“Glaucoma Awareness Month is an invaluable opportunity to educate our community about the risks, diagnosis and treatment options for this often overlooked condition,” explained Dr. John Berdahl, an internationally recognized ophthalmologist at Vance Thompson Vision. “With early diagnosis and today’s innovative treatments, patients have the potential to preserve their vision and maintain a high quality of life.”

Over the past decade, advancements in glaucoma treatment have shifted toward patient-centered approaches, giving new hope to patients at risk of vision loss. “Not only have glaucoma treatment options expanded dramatically, but they have also become more patient-centered,” Berdahl said.

Innovative treatments now available include:

• Minimally invasive options that use tiny stents inside the eye to lower eye pressure.
• Laser procedures that may reduce or even eliminate the need for eye drops.
• Drug delivery devices, which can deliver medication directly to the eye, simplifying the treatment process.
• For the first time, a nonsurgical, nonpharmacological option in the form of depressurized goggles has been introduced, providing an alternative way to lower eye pressure.

“These breakthroughs allow us to tailor treatment to each patient, providing safer, more effective solutions and greater hope of preserving vision,” Berdahl added.

Dr. Lorraine Provencher, an internationally recognized glaucoma expert who specializes in interventional glaucoma treatment at Vance Thompson Vision, emphasizes the importance of routine screenings.

“Early detection and treatment are critical. Patients who are treated early in the disease, with options like laser, drug implants or minimally invasive surgery, can avoid significant vision loss and the need for more invasive, higher-risk surgeries.”

Glaucoma often develops without noticeable symptoms, making regular eye exams essential — especially for individuals older than 60 or those with a family history of the disease or other risk factors. Vance Thompson Vision encourages patients to schedule routine eye exams with their primary eye care provider to detect glaucoma early.

To learn more about glaucoma and explore treatment options, visit vancethompsonvision.com or call 866-907-3937 to schedule a consultation.