January is glaucoma awareness month. Glaucoma is a group of diseases that damage the eye’s optic nerve which may result in vision loss and blindness. If detected early major damage to the optic nerve can be avoided. Dr. Chris Olson of Complete Eye Care Center in Mount Pleasant says, glaucoma is the most common cause of preventable blindness in the world. Nearly three million people in the U.S. have been diagnosed but it is estimated that an additional three million people have the disease but have not been diagnosed.

Olson adds while there is no cure it is a treatable disease with most just having to use medical eye drops once a day. He recommends seeing an optometrist every two years when you’re young and annually after 60 years of age.