Helen Payte can see well despite having had glaucoma for about 10 years.

She credits early detection and regular medication for her keen sight.

“I read a lot; I love to read,” she said. “And I sew. I sure am a believer in eye exams.”

Payte said she didn’t know she had a potentially blinding disease when she went in for that regular eye exam.

“I didn’t have any symptoms,” she said. “I was just going in for a regular exam when the doctor diagnosed me with glaucoma. I was surprised.”

One of the benefits of that early diagnosis was getting started on medication. Payte said she uses eye drops every night and has never developed any of the symptoms of glaucoma.

“It’s mainly the pressure inside my eyes,” she said. “That’s why I use those eye drops.”

According to the National Eye Institutes, glaucoma is a group of diseases that can damage the eye’s optic nerve and result in vision loss and blindness. Glaucoma occurs when the normal fluid pressure inside the eyes slowly rises.

Glaucoma is the second most common cause of blindness in the United States, said Dr. Jim Nelson, a Muskogee optometrist.

“January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month, and we encourage all people, especially those at higher risk for this disease, to familiarize themselves with the potential symptoms and need for regular eye examinations,” Nelson said. “A regular eye examination is especially critical since a person with early-stage glaucoma may not notice any symptoms at all.”

Nelson added that while the early stage symptoms may not be noticeable, persons with glaucoma may notice blurred vision, the presence of halos around lights, loss of peripheral vision and difficulty focusing on objects.

“Glaucoma affects an estimated 3 million Americans,” Nelson said. “Some people are more at risk than others.”

“While there is no cure for glaucoma, early detection and treatment can slow or prevent further vision loss,” Nelson said. “First and foremost in the process is a comprehensive eye health exam by your family eye doctor.”