January Is Glaucoma Awareness Month: Why Early Detection Can Save Your Vision
Most people don’t think about glaucoma—until it’s too late.
Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness worldwide, yet it often develops quietly, without pain or early warning signs. In fact, more than 3 million people in the United States are living with glaucoma, and nearly half don’t know they have it, according to the National Eye Institute. Too many people are diagnosed only after vision loss has already occurred.
That’s why January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month—a time to shine a light on a disease that too often hides in plain sight.
What Is Glaucoma—and Why Is It So Hard to Detect?
Glaucoma isn’t a single disease. It’s a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, the structure that connects your eyes to your brain. This damage is often linked to increased pressure inside the eye, but not always; some people develop glaucoma even when eye pressure appears “normal.”
What makes glaucoma especially dangerous is that vision loss usually starts at the edges (peripheral vision). Your central vision often stays sharp until later stages, which means many people don’t notice anything is wrong until significant, permanent damage has occurred. That’s why glaucoma is often called the “Silent Thief of Sight.”
Who Is at Higher Risk?
Anyone can develop glaucoma, but certain factors increase risk:
- Being over age 60 (or over 40 for Black or African American individuals)
- Having a family history of glaucoma
- Being Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, or Native American
- Living with diabetes
- Long-term steroid use
- A history of eye injury or trauma
- Nearsightedness or other eye conditions
Importantly, you don’t need symptoms to be at risk. Regular, comprehensive eye exams are the only reliable way to detect glaucoma early.
If you’ve been recently diagnosed with glaucoma, you don’t have to navigate it alone. We invite you to join The Glaucoma Community to access reliable, expert-reviewed information, practical resources, and supportive conversations with others who understand what you’re going through.
Why Awareness (and Early Detection) Matters
There is currently no cure for glaucoma. But there is good news:
When detected early, treatment can slow or prevent further vision loss.
Treatment may include eye drops, laser procedures, sustained-release medications, or surgery—options that are far more effective when glaucoma is caught early. Once vision is lost, it cannot be restored.
As Jeff Todd, President and CEO of Prevent Blindness, puts it:
“Early detection and treatment can slow significant vision loss. That’s why access to affordable, quality eye care is essential for everyone.”
Talking About Glaucoma Saves Vision—Including for Your Family
Because glaucoma often runs in families, awareness doesn’t stop with you. If you’ve been diagnosed—or even if you’re at risk—talking to relatives about eye exams can protect their sight too.
These conversations aren’t always easy. Many people don’t know how to describe vision changes, ask the right questions, or understand their treatment options. That’s where education and community support make a difference.
Join the Conversation: Free Glaucoma Webinar on January 20
To help people feel informed and empowered, we’re hosting a free live webinar on January 20 with glaucoma experts and patient advocates.
What you’ll learn:
- How glaucoma is diagnosed and monitored
- How to talk to your eye doctor and ask the right questions
- How to understand treatment options and next steps
- How to discuss family risk and encourage loved ones to get screened
- How to cope emotionally with a glaucoma diagnosis
There will also be time for live Q&A, so you can ask the questions that matter most to you.
Register here!
Awareness Is the First Step Toward Prevention
Glaucoma doesn’t announce itself—but awareness changes outcomes.
National Glaucoma Awareness Month is a reminder that protecting your vision starts with information, regular eye exams, and open conversations. If you haven’t had a comprehensive eye exam recently—or if glaucoma runs in your family—January is the perfect time to take that step.
Your sight is worth it.
Sources
- National Eye Institute. “Glaucoma”. nei.nih.org
- Vision Monday. “Prevent Blindness Joins January’s National Glaucoma Awareness Month Efforts”. visionmonday.com