Baltimore Washington Eye Center on Glaucoma Risks & Need for Eye Exams

GLEN BURNIE, MD, January 10, 2013 (Press-News.org) "As Prevent Blindness America has designated January as National Glaucoma Awareness Month we want to be diligent in sharing with patients need to understand their glaucoma risks and how we can help prevent glaucoma vision loss through early detection and diagnosis with regular eye exams-and reassure them about the improved availability in glaucoma treatment options we have today," commented Ophthalmologist Arturo Betancourt, M.D., Medical Director of Baltimore Washington Eye Center.

"While we know that everyone is at risk for developing glaucoma, we also know that there are a number of factors that can impact that risk," stated Ophthalmologist Brad Spagnolo, M.D. "For example, we know that your risk of developing glaucoma increases with age such that it is noticeably higher for those over the age of 40 and actually 6 times greater once you are over 60 even without any medical issues or family history. If anyone in your family has glaucoma your risk increases 4-9 fold-and this is even greater if you have other systemic or eye diseases that compromise circulation such as diabetes," explained Dr. Spagnolo. "We also know that race adversely impacts glaucoma risk in that African-Americans have a genetic predisposition that exposes them to a 6-8 fold increased risk for glaucoma and in fact glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in African-Americans. Further, patients of Hispanic descent over the age of 60 seem to be at increased risk and we also find that Asians appear to have higher risk for developing a type of glaucoma called narrow angle glaucoma," explained Dr. Spagnolo.

"What we need patients to know is that the key to managing glaucoma risk and avoiding vision loss from glaucoma is to have regular eye exams at appropriate time intervals as directed by your eye doctor," said Dr. Betancourt. "We also want patients to be aware that today we have excellent in office advanced technology diagnostic tools such as ocular coherence tomography (OCT) testing-somewhat like an CT scan of the optic nerve, better eye drops for glaucoma, excellent laser treatments and new glaucoma surgery techniques that use microscopic glaucoma stents to reduce eye pressure. The advances in glaucoma treatment allow us to be so much more effective in helping maintain eye health and vision," Dr. Betancourt explained.

Baltimore Washington Eye Center is a leading eye care practice serving the greater Baltimore and Washington, D.C. area that staffed by a team of Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, Opticians, technical and administrative staff who provide 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, care for diseases of the retina including diabetes and age related macular degeneration (AMD) and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma as well as contact lenses, eyeglasses, eyewear and optical services. Baltimore Washington Eye Center is conveniently located for patients from Arbutus, Carney, Catonsville, Clarksville, Columbia, Dundalk, Edgemere, Essex, Ellicott City, Ferndale, Glen Burnie, Kenwood, Laurel, Linthicum, Lutherville, Millersville, Odenton, Olney, Owings Mills, Reisterstown, Towson, Parkville, Randallstown, Rivera Beach, Pasadena, Severna Park, South Gate and Woodlawn Maryland.

To learn more about Baltimore Washington Eye Center you may visit http://www.bweyecenter.com or http://www.facebook.com/baltimorewashingtoneyecenter or follow our eye care blog at http://baltimorewashingtoneyecenter.blogspot.com.

For additional information, contact:
Phillip Harrington, Baltimore Washington Eye Center, 200 Hospital Drive, Suite 600, Glen Burnie, Maryland 21061, PHarrington@BWEyecenter.com, 800-495-3937.

SOURCE: Medical Management Services Group, L.L.C.
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