January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month

January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month and , an eye care practice with offices in , Norwalk and Westport, is reminding people that early detection is the key to preventing the disease, which is the number one cause of blindness.

The disease is more prevalent in African-American and Hispanic populations, however there are other risk factors such as family history and certain diseases such as diabetes. People in their 40’s, 50’s and 60’s are more likely to get the disease, the doctor’s office reminds.

“The key step in preventing vision loss from glaucoma is early detection, diagnosis and treatment,” said Dr. Leslie Doctor of Doctor & Associates in a release. “This is why we want raise awareness about the importance of regular eye examinations to preserve vision especially for our aging population. We strongly recommend that siblings of glaucoma patients be screened each and every year as their risk of developing glaucoma is some 5 times higher than the typical population.”

Doctor & Associates, with an office at 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, in addition to other Fairfield County locations, offers eye examinations for adults and children; cataract surgery and intraocular lens implants (IOL); laser vision correction such as LASIK; diagnosis and treatment of cornea disease including cornea transplants; diagnosis and management of diseases of the retina including diabetes and age related macular degeneration; and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma; as well as contact lenses, eyeglasses and optical services.