January is Glaucoma Awareness Month
Mount Sinai Experts Available to Discuss Tips & Information on Degenerative Eye Disease
Glaucoma, a degenerative eye disease that causes damage to the optic nerve, is the second leading cause of blindness in the world, according to the World Health Organization. To observe Glaucoma Awareness Month, ophthalmologists at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai and the Mount Sinai Health System are offering tips for prevention and early detection of the condition.
In most cases, there are few symptoms of glaucoma. Gradually peripheral or side vision begins to worsen without patients realizing it, which enables the disease to progress into later stages.
“Glaucoma has been called the ‘silent thief of vision,’” says James C. Tsai, MD, MBA, Chair, Department of Ophthalmology, Mount Sinai Health System and President, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai. “We actually think that glaucoma is not just one disease, but a group of diseases that damage the optic nerve,” he says. “We suspect that there is a genetic predisposition, but it’s complicated — many genes have been discovered to have some association with glaucoma.”
Experts Available for Interview
- James C. Tsai, MD, MBA, Chair, Department of Ophthalmology, Mount Sinai Health System and President, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai
- Paul A. Sidoti, MD, Professor of Ophthalmology and Deputy Chair for Clinical Affairs, Department of Ophthalmology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the Mount Sinai Health System
Facts about Glaucoma
- Currently, 2.7 million people in the United States over age 40 have glaucoma. The National Eye Institute projects this number will reach 4.2 million by 2030, a 58 percent increase (Glaucoma Research Foundation)
- Glaucoma costs the U.S. economy $2.86 billion every year in direct costs and productivity losses
- Glaucoma is most prevalent among African and Hispanic populations. Glaucoma is 6 to 8 times more common in African Americans than Caucasians (www.glaucoma.org)
- Risk factors include individuals over 60 years old, family history, diabetes, high blood pressure, eye injuries, and congenital defects
- Glaucoma doesn’t only impact adults. Childhood glaucoma — also referred to as congenital, pediatric, or infantile glaucoma — occurs in infants and young children. It is usually diagnosed within the first year of life
Tips for Glaucoma Prevention
- Find out if there is a history of glaucoma in your family
- Schedule routine eye examinations with an ophthalmologist to help prevent unnecessary vision loss from glaucoma and other eye conditions
- Minimize prolonged head-down positions (e.g. yoga downward positions) that some research suggests may elevate eye pressure
About the Mount Sinai Health System
Mount Sinai Health System is one of the nation’s leading integrated academic health systems and one of the largest in the New York metropolitan area. Its comprehensive system includes seven hospitals, more than 400 outpatient practices, over 600 research and clinical laboratories, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, and the Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing. Together, the Health System comprises approximately 48,000 employees, more than 9,000 physicians, and 8,600 nurses.
As a leading learning health system, Mount Sinai combines clinical expertise with scientific discovery to improve patient care while training the next generation of health care and biomedical leaders. The Health System provides care across every stage of life, from prenatal care through geriatrics, while advancing personalized medicine through artificial intelligence, data science, and biomedical research.
Mount Sinai is consistently recognized among the nation’s leading academic health systems for patient care, research, and education. The Mount Sinai Hospital is ranked No. 1 in New York by Newsweek and No. 5 on the magazine’s World’s Best Hospitals list. The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai ranks No. 11 among U.S. medical schools and No. 1 among freestanding medical schools for National Institutes of Health funding, reflecting the strength of its scientific enterprise and leadership in biomedical research.
Mount Sinai Recruits Internationally Recognized Ophthalmologists to Expand Leadership
Dec 17, 2018 View All Press ReleasesMount Sinai Establishes the Eye and Vision Research Institute
Jan 09, 2017 View All Press Releases